The Chicago Bears are getting closer to the start of training camp, with rookies reporting on July 16. Between now and the start of Training Camp, many are studying NFL rosters and throwing different angles at the wall to see what sticks. That is basically the only way to explain the player chosen by ESPN’s Courtney Cronin as the Chicago Bears’ standout during OTAs.
“WR Velus Jones Jr.
No one benefits from the changes to the kickoff more than the Bears’ 2022 third-round pick. Jones, who struggled to carve out a role during his first two seasons, will have to be the team’s best returner to secure his spot on a crowded wide receiver depth chart, but he has a solid head start given his impact on special teams. ”
Velus Jones Jr. is entering his third season in the NFL, but let’s be honest: he’s on borrowed time with the Bears. Jones should have been released before the 2023 season began, but that would have been an extraordinarily early move for a player selected in the third round of the previous year’s draft.
Velus Jones Jr. is on his last life while hanging on to a Chicago Bears’ roster spot.
It’s fair to say that Jones should be given an opportunity to prove his value on the Bears with the new kickoff rules but it’s also important to remember that he has proven his only value to the Bears is as a return specialist. What has been problematic about that statement is that Jones has struggled in the very first requirement of being a return specialist, catching the ball. But hey, perhaps Jones was great at that skill during OTAs and finally stood out.
