Velus

Jones

Jones continued special teams duties in Week 18, similar to his season-long role. He finishes 2023 with four receptions for 20 yards, adding eight carries for 51 yards. Jones was not on the field with the offense often, but when he was, he was used as a gadget player. The 26-year-old wraps up his second year as a special teamer, splitting return opportunities with Trent Taylor and rookie Tyler Scott. Jones is not on the fantasy radar for 2024.

Jones was on the roster bubble heading into camp, but managed to stick hold a spot after roster cutdown day. Still, the former third-round pick doesn’t appear to have a role on offense or special teams to open the season. Quarterback Nathan Peterman will backup Justin Fields with Bagent inactive.

As Fishbain notes in his article, Jones won’t be earning a lot of reps at wide receiver with D.J. Moore, Darnell Mooney, and Chase Claypool looking like the top-three options. The team also values Equanimeous St. Brown’s run blocking and added rookie Tyler Scott in the fourth round of this year’s draft. Fishbain suggests Jones could be in competition with veteran Dante Pettis for the final roster spot -- assuming the Bears break camp with six receivers. Jones proved his value as a kick return last season, but it was Pettis who handled punt return duties while also showing some chemistry with quarterback Justin Fields. Jones, who the Bears selected in the third round of last year’s draft, finished the season with seven receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown, while running just 71 routes for a team already thin at receiver. Barring injuries, Jones could be in for an uphill battle to earn a roster spot this offseason. It should go without saying, but he’s also well off the fantasy radar.

The aged rookie also returned a punt for a touchdown in a game the Bears tried to lose to secure the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Jones ends his rookie season with seven receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown, along with eight rushing attempts for 61 yards. The Bears clearly see Jones not as an every-down wideout but as a gadget player and kick returner. He’s a long way from fantasy revalance.

Jones, a little-used rookie, made the biggest play of the game for Chicago with a 44-yard grab down the sideline in the third quarter. Running 19 pass routes on Justin Fields’ 33 drop backs, Jones saw a major increase in playing time with Chase Claypool (knee) and Equanimious St. Brown (concussion) out. Jones should remain on waiver wires in Week 17.

The third-round rookie was a healthy scratch in Week 10 but returns for what fantasy players are hoping is a high-scoring matchup. Inactive for the Bears are WR N’Keal Harry, CB Lamar Jackson, CB Justin Layne, DB Dane Cruikshank, OG Ja’Tyre Carter and OL Alex Leatherwood.

The Bears will have Byron Pringle active for the first time since Week 3, making N’Keal Harry a healthy scratch. Jones was a healthy scratch in Week 9 and remains inactive against the Lions. The Bears will likely be more focused on getting the ball to Chase Claypool, Darnell Mooney, and Cole Kmet than Pringle, keeping him off the fantasy radar.

Chase Claypool will apparently be replacing Jones on the gameday roster, which is tough news for the grizzled rookie who happened to lose a horrific fumble in his last major playing time with the starters in Week 6. Also inactive for the Bears are OL Alex Leatherwood, OL Ja’Tyre Carter (illness), TE Jake Tonges, and CB Lamar Jackson.

Those were Jones’ only official touches on offense, but it was his back-breaking special teams fumble with 8:06 remaining that ended up deciding the game. Jones looked like he had never fielded a punt before when he muffed the ball at his own six-yard line. The Commanders cashed in what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown two plays later. Yet to make a positive impact through three contests, the 25-year-old rookie remains miles from fantasy relevance.

Also active is Robert Quinn. The Bears declared RB David Montgomery, CB Jaylon Johnson, K Cairo Santos, S Dane Cruikshank, LB Matt Adams, TE Ryan Griffin and OL Ja’Tyre Carter inactive.