The Chicago Bears’ 2024 season opener was marred by another costly mistake from Velus Jones Jr. Just before the end of the first quarter, Jones mishandled his first kickoff return of the season. The ball slipped through his hands and deflected off his foot, resulting in a 20-yard loss and a recovery by the Tennessee Titans at the Bears’ 23-yard line. The Titans capitalized on the mistake, scoring a touchdown and taking a 10-point lead shortly thereafter.
The error led to a swift backlash from Bears fans on social media, with “Cut Velus” trending on X. Fans expressed their frustration, with comments like, “Velus Jones needs to be unemployed come Monday,” and “Hey @ChicagoBears, remind me again why we didn’t trade Velus Jones? He’s been a bust for years. Seriously!”
Following the blunder, the Bears opted not to give Jones another chance at returning kicks, replacing him with Khalil Herbert alongside DeAndre Carter. Carter managed a 67-yard return on one of the few remaining kickoffs, while the other was a touchback.
Despite his continued involvement on offense, where he saw limited touches and averaged 5.5 yards per carry, Jones’ contributions failed to overshadow his earlier mistake. Even beat writers have expressed discontent, with DaBearsBlog’s Johnathan Wood stating, “That should be the last snap Velus Jones Jr. ever takes as a Chicago Bear. Sooner or later, you run out of chances, and you can’t have a backup/ST guy routinely turning the ball over.”
Eberflus’ Support for Jones
Head coach Matt Eberflus offered a more supportive view of Jones following the game. “Yeah, I was proud of Velus Jones, I really was,” Eberflus said. “I know that’s not what he wanted, but I thought we responded well on defense and held them to three points in that situation. He did a nice job coming in at the halfback position and getting north. We’ll evaluate his role as a kick returner as we go.”
Jones had a modest showing as a running back, touching the ball only twice while D’Andre Swift handled the bulk of the carries. Eberflus seemed inclined to keep Jones involved, though his role as a returner is under review.
What’s Next for Jones?
The Bears face a tough decision heading into Week 2 against the Houston Texans. If they decide to move away from Jones as a kick returner, justifying his place on the 48-man game-day roster becomes more challenging. In Week 1, Jones’ spot was secured over 2023 fourth-round picks Roschon Johnson and Tyler Scott mainly due to his return capabilities. If Jones is relegated to a backup role, Johnson or Scott might seize the opportunity to contribute more significantly.
If Jones is permanently benched as a returner, the Bears may need to reconsider his role or explore trade options to recoup value for the former third-round pick. The team’s next moves will be crucial in determining whether Jones can salvage his spot on the roster or if the Bears will cut their losses.