Bears HC says former third-round WR is like a 'freight train' returning kickoffs

Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr.

The NFL adopted new kickoff rules this offseason in which teams will kick the ball off from their 35-yard line and cannot move until the ball hits the ground or is fielded inside the 20-yard line or end zone.

That has forced teams to experiment with their players to find an edge and the Bears believe they have found exactly that in third-year wide receiver Velus Jones.

"A guy like that with the type of skill set, with the speed and power that he has, and he's coming full speed ahead at you. It's like a damn freight train running at you," head coach Matt Eberflus said, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

If Jones can be Chicago's X-factor on special teams, it will certainly be a win-win as he has yet to carve out a role for himself two years into his NFL career.

The former third-round pick in 2022 has registered just 11 catches for 127 yards and one touchdown the past two seasons. He has also rushed for 154 yards and one touchdown during the span.

Without a clear role in the offense, which saw the additions of running back D'Andre Swift, wide receivers Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze and tight end Gerald Everett this offseason, having success as a kickoff returner could secure Jones a spot on the 53-man roster.

Eberflus seems to think Jones has shown early promise as a returner, but at the same time, it's tough to judge this early in the offseason without the pads on.

Once the Bears put on the pads in training camp at the end of July, Jones will have the opportunity to continue making his case after a disappointing start to his career.

There's good reason to think Jones will do just that with his previous success as a returner. During his final season at Tennessee, he was named the 2021 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year after returning 24 kickoffs for 628 yards and a touchdown.

The new kickoff rules could be exactly what Jones needed to save his career.

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