Bears Keep Velus Jones Jr. on the Side
The Bears took a rather drastic move on special teams for the season opener.
Their 2022 third-round draft pick, Velus Jones Jr., was made a game-day inactive. Meanwhile, 2023 fourth-round pick Tyler Scott is active for the game.
The wide receiver from Tennessee had averages 27.6 yards per return last year, third best in the NFL among return men with at least 20 attempts.
The Bears had several other options as kick returners but Jones' speed and power had made him a threat last year. He has struggled greatly trying to field punts, however, and was pulled off those duties after two key muffs last season and then mis-playing two punts in the preseason opener.
Jones played in 12 games, made seven receptions and ran the ball nine times as a rookie in addition to his kick returns and five punt returns.
Throughout training camp coaches had been upbeat about Jones' status and saw him improving. However, since then Jones has been referred to by special teams coordinator Richard Hightower as a "developing" player. What this situation means for Jones' future is unclear but it's certain Bears GM Ryan Poles didn't anticipate on draft day in 2022 that his third-round receiver would be unable to make it onto the list of 46 for game day while healthy.
The Bears also left wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown as a game-day inactive and he had been a vital part of the receiver group last year, but his strength was actually blocking on wide receiver screens and downfield. St. Brown is a former Packers player who would have been facing his old team.
Former Packers tight end Robert Tonyan Jr. will be playing in the game. He had been listed questionable because of a back injury on Saturday.
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