Chicitysports
  • BEARS
  • BULLS
  • BLACKHAWKS
  • CUBS
  • WHITE SOX
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Navigation
  • About Us
  • Chicago Sports News
  • Chicago Sports Podcasts
  • ChiCity+
  • Get In Touch
  • Join Our Group
  • Newsletter
  • Our Writers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • The Chicago Bears Are So Bad, That Even TV Stations are Avoiding Them at All Costs
  • Chicago Bears wide receiver named as trade piece for New England Patriots
  • Report: Chicago Bears Likely to Be Without Key Members of Secondary in Week 4
  • Report suggests Chicago Bulls are a team on point guard’s trade list
  • From A Distance: What more can the Cubs endure?
  • Report: Jrue Holiday is still on the move, could Bulls show interest?
  • Former Chicago Bears DC considered a rising star; possible Matt Eberflus replacement?
  • Matt Eberflus taking over defensive play-calling rest of season
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
ChicitysportsChicitysports
  • BEARS

    The Chicago Bears Are So Bad, That Even TV Stations are Avoiding Them at All Costs

    September 28, 2023

    Chicago Bears wide receiver named as trade piece for New England Patriots

    September 28, 2023

    Report: Chicago Bears Likely to Be Without Key Members of Secondary in Week 4

    September 28, 2023

    Former Chicago Bears DC considered a rising star; possible Matt Eberflus replacement?

    September 27, 2023

    Matt Eberflus taking over defensive play-calling rest of season

    September 27, 2023
  • BULLS

    Report suggests Chicago Bulls are a team on point guard’s trade list

    September 28, 2023

    Report: Jrue Holiday is still on the move, could Bulls show interest?

    September 27, 2023

    Rumor: Bulls trying to get in on the Damian Lillard Sweepstakes

    September 20, 2023

    Why is Lonzo Ball promoting Big Baller Brand again?

    September 20, 2023

    Paris Saint-Germain unveils 2023-24 Jordan Brand kit

    September 19, 2023
  • BLACKHAWKS

    Blackhawks Lose Associate General Manager before Preseason Begins

    September 21, 2023

    Chicago GM Davidson says Blackhawks focus is on development

    September 19, 2023

    Chicago Blackhawks: Kyle Davidson makes major announcement on 2023-24 team captain

    September 19, 2023

    Connor Bedard puts on a show in his Blackhawks debut

    September 17, 2023

    Blackhawks receive green light on Fifth Third Arena expansion

    September 14, 2023
  • CUBS

    From A Distance: What more can the Cubs endure?

    September 28, 2023

    From A Distance: Seiya Suzuki’s costly error hurts Cubs

    September 27, 2023

    Cubs, Baseball Fans in Disbelief after Massive Gaffe

    September 26, 2023

    Two Key Chicago Cubs Continue to Work their Way Back

    September 26, 2023

    Where the Chicago Cubs Sit Heading into the Final Week of the Regular Season

    September 26, 2023
  • WHITE SOX

    White Sox Hire New Assistant GM

    September 19, 2023

    White Sox Game Last Night in D.C. has Fans Debating on Social Media

    September 19, 2023

    Mike Clevinger Accomplished a Rare Feat Monday Night

    September 19, 2023

    Chicago White Sox Reliever, Knowingly Pitched Through Injury

    September 14, 2023

    White Sox Fans Grill Team After New General Manager Announcement

    August 31, 2023
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Chicitysports
Home»Bears»Report: Chicago Bears coach defends curious decision to bench explosive player in 2022
Bears

Report: Chicago Bears coach defends curious decision to bench explosive player in 2022

Jordan SiglerBy Jordan SiglerJune 6, 20233 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Email
Chicago Bears Velus Jones Jr.
Photo courtesy of Marquee Sports Network
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

The Chicago Bears started out head coach Matt Eberflus‘ first season with the team by playing fairly mediocre before fizzling into a predicted disaster. A Bears staff member recently explained why one rookie who contributed greatly to the Bears’ downfall last season didn’t get reps for experience when the Bears were out of the playoff hunt.

Velus Jones Jr. had a rough rookie year

The Bears were 3-4 heading into their Halloween weekend matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. The season didn’t go off the rails until the Bears lost that game in a blowout and then turned around the next week to lose a nailbiter by three points at home to the Miami Dolphins. The team had several chances to win close games in their first nine tries. One common denominator in those losses were crucial mistakes by wide receiver and return man Velus Jones Jr.

Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. muffs a punt against the Washington Commanders.

The NFC East thoroughly destroyed his rookie campaign. Jones muffed punts against the New York Giants, and Washington Commanders came in one-score games. Jones’ dropped touchdown reception against the Cowboys didn’t ultimately cost the Bears a touchdown drive, but it didn’t help his cause. Jones fumbled on a reverse running play against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jamie Gillan 59-yd punt .. Velus Jones muff recovered by Brightwell#Bears 12 #Giants 20 Q4 pic.twitter.com/uSj0fW0PSV

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) October 2, 2022

General manager Ryan Poles argued cooking the board for a 25-year-old rookie made sense because Jones wouldn’t want to “party” and would be entering the NFL mature. Instead, they got a raw NFL returner who took forever to mature their footbal skills in college. Dante Pettis replaced him to close out the season.

Why the Chicago Bears benched Jones

Brad Biggs wrote about the Bears’ special teams’ outlook for the 2023 season. Biggs quoted special teams coordinator Richard Hightower on the decision to bench Jones. Biggs was curious as to why the Bears didn’t let Jones gain more experience on the field when the season was basically over:

“It’s worth wondering if the Bears regret not putting Velus Jones back out there near the end of the 10-game losing streak to end the season. They had little to lose in December.

“No, I don’t,” Hightower said. “Everything that happens to you, you learn from it. I see a kid that is even more eager now because he knows, ‘I want to be out there.’ He comes back with a totally different mindset. He looks different.”

Jones’ mindset will have to change this summer as he’ll face competition for a roster spot. The Bears added several wide receivers since he was drafted. Rookie wide receiver Tyler Scott returned kickoffs at Cincinnati. Scott didn’t return punts, but scouts think he can return punts at the NFL level, given his speed. But as we learned with Jones, hands are as important as speed–if not more so.

Velus Jones Jr.
The Bears need Jones to have better control handling the football this season.

It sounds like Jones is ready for the fight this offseason. The team will be better if he can show the Bears coaching staff that they can trust him to catch the ball. Jones’ speed and potential to be a playmaker are off the charts if he gains that confidence.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks.

messagebordbanner

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

Chicago Bears Velus Jones Jr.
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
1bAPO 7e 400x400
Jordan Sigler
  • Twitter

I'm a writer and journalist. I cover the NFL, NHL, NBA, and other sports for, ChiCitySports, Wisconsin Sports Heroics, and Gridiron Heroics. My craft has been syndicated nationally on Yardbarker and MSN.

Related Posts

Bears September 28, 2023

The Chicago Bears Are So Bad, That Even TV Stations are Avoiding Them at All Costs

Bears September 28, 2023

Chicago Bears wide receiver named as trade piece for New England Patriots

Bears September 28, 2023

Report: Chicago Bears Likely to Be Without Key Members of Secondary in Week 4

Bears September 27, 2023

Former Chicago Bears DC considered a rising star; possible Matt Eberflus replacement?

Bears September 27, 2023

Matt Eberflus taking over defensive play-calling rest of season

Bears September 27, 2023

BREAKING: Chicago Bears poach Minnesota Vikings cornerback in desperate bid for depth

Leave A Reply

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Team Message Boards

bears TP
bulls TP
cubs TP
sox TP
hawks TP
we want you to write
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
  • Home
  • Message Board
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
© 2023 ChiCitySports. Designed by Dope Guys Who Run ChiCitySports.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.