Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but it seems as if Velus Jones Jr. is in the dog house.
If you missed the Chicago Bears’ season-opening win against the Tennessee Titans, then you missed Jones mishandling another kick. It’s happened on punts (his debut game as a rookie, his first preseason game last year) and now kicks (both in the preseason and now in the regular season). Bears fans are fed up. And I don’t blame them one bit. And I can’t imagine they’re alone in feeling this way.
This is wꦏhat Bears Special Teams Coordinator Richard Hightower had to say to reporters regarding the latest on Velus Jones Jr.:
Kudos to Richard🤪 Hightower for threa🍒ding the needle in assessing the Velus Jones Jr. situation.
On the one hand, it is 100 percent understandable to feel bad for a player he has been coaching since his rookie season in 2022. It isn’t as if Velus wants to muff kicked balls. And it isn’t like he hasn’t been working to fix what has been a problem for a few years now. However, on the other hand, good coaches find a way to separate the human aspect from what is best for the team. It is a cold, cold world. But Hightower sounds ready to tackle it — even if it means leaving someone he wants to do well (i.e. Velus) on the bench.
What should the Chicago Bears do with Velus Jones Jr.?
The obvious solution to the Bears’ Velus Jones problem is to cut the player. But the obvious solution isn’t an easy one for decision-makers at Halas Hall — and it goes beyond having ties and connections to a player who this regime drafted and has worked hard to cling to a roster spot at the start of their third year as a pro.
The Bears have some injury concerns in the wide receivers’ room. Rookie Rome Odunze has a knee issue that is keeping him out of practice and figures to sideline him for at least one week (possibly more). Veteran wideout Keenan Allen has been a non-participant during this week’s practices with a heel injury. Unlike Odunze, there is an expectation that Allen will play against the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football and that these DNPs he is piling up are nothing more than rest days for a wily vet. Given that information, having a short-handed group of receivers doesn’t lend itself to flat-dropping a player. Yes, even one as frustrating as Velus Jones Jr. has been.
With that being said, there is a part of me that expects the Bears to make VJJ a healthy scratch for Week 2. There is a precedent for this in the Matt Eberflus era as head coach. In November 2022, Jones found himself in the dog house and had a ton of work to do before getting out. One year later, Jones was once again a healthy scratch after a poor showing when given a clean slate and an op🍸portunity to get back on the good foot. If it happens for a third consecutive year, it would make iꦛt officially a trend — one that we would be foolish to ignore.
If it is any consolation, the Bears have a more-than-suitable placeholder to take over the role. DeAndre Carter, who was looking excellent in the kick return game, handled punt returns after Velus Jones Jr.’s early-game miscue. For what it is worth, Chicago’s special teams coach said he is comfortable () with Carter doing both roles. But should the Bears seek out other alternatives, Khalil Herbert and Tyler Scott come to mind as players who could do the job.
The Bears have done everything you could think of to give Velus Jones Jr. a chance at redemption. This team spent the preseason hyping him up and giving him opportunities. So for him to have that gaffe in Week 1 was just straight-up ugly. To literally fumble away your first big opportunity puts you on thin ice. A message has been sent by the Bears. I’ll be curious to see how Velus responds (or if he is even given a chance).
