Velus Jones Jr.
WR
#12
Experience: 3 years
Height: 6-0
Age: 26
Weight: 200 lbs
College: Tennessee
2023 SEASON
-
REC4
-
YDS20
-
AVG5
-
TDS0
Receiving
| YEAR | TEAM | G | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | 1st | 1st% | 20+ | 40+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chicago Bears | 14 | 4 | 20 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Chicago Bears | 12 | 7 | 107 | 15.3 | 44 | 1 | 4 | 57.1 | 2 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 26 | 11 | 127 | 11.5 | 44 | 1 | 5 | 45.5 | 2 | 1 |
Rushing
| YEAR | TEAM | G | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | 1st | 1st% | 20+ | 40+ | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chicago Bears | 14 | 8 | 51 | 6.4 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Chicago Bears | 12 | 9 | 103 | 11.4 | 42 | 1 | 5 | 55.6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 26 | 17 | 154 | 9.1 | 42 | 1 | 9 | 52.9 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Kick Return
| YEAR | TEAM | G | RET | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | 20+ | 40+ | FC | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chicago Bears | 14 | 16 | 435 | 27.2 | 37 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Chicago Bears | 12 | 22 | 607 | 27.6 | 63 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 26 | 38 | 1042 | 27.4 | 63 | 0 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Punt Return
| YEAR | TEAM | G | RET | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | 20+ | 40+ | FC | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chicago Bears | 14 | |||||||||
| 2022 | Chicago Bears | 12 | 5 | 35 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 26 | 5 | 35 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Fumbles
| YEAR | TEAM | G | FUM | LOST | FF | OWN FR | OPP FR | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chicago Bears | 14 | 0 | |||||
| 2022 | Chicago Bears | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |||
| TOTAL | 26 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense
| YEAR | TEAM | G | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | TDS | YDS | AVG | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chicago Bears | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2022 | Chicago Bears | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| TOTAL | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Biography
PRO CAREER:
- Selected by the Bears in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft (No. 71 overall)
- Has played in 26 games, making two starts, with 11 receptions for 127 yards and one receiving touchdown in addition to 17 rushes for 154 yards with a 42-yard rushing touchdown
- Has recorded 34 kickoff returns for 1,042 yards (27.4 avg.) in his career
2023 SEASON (BEARS):
- Made season debut in Week 2 against the Buccaneers
- Has played in offensive and special teams snaps
- Recorded first rush of the season in Week 4 against the Broncos for 10 yards
- Logged a career-high 110 scrimmage yards in Week 6 against the Vikings
- Returned the opening kickoff 37 yards, marking his longest kick return on the season and fifth-longest of his career
- Returned two kicks for 49 yards in Week 7
- Returned one kick for 28 yards in Week 12
- Hauled in an 11-yard reception from QB Justin Fields in the Bears' 28-13 victory over the Lions in Week 14
- Rushed the ball for 23 yards on two carries (11.5 avg.) at Cleveland in Week 17
- Recorded 16 kick returns for 435 yards (27.4 avg)
2022 SEASON (Bears):
- Made his NFL debut in Week 4 at New York, working primarily on special teams
- In Week 5 at Minnesota, took a nine-yard touch-pass into the end zone to bring the score to 21-16 (10:31)
- The reception was the first offensive touch of his career, and he becomes the second offensive skill player in franchise history to score a touchdown on the first offensive touch of their NFL career, the last player to do so being Adam Shaheen on Sept. 24, 2017 at Cincinnati (STATS LLC)
- Finished with one reception for 10 yards and one rush for eight yards against the Commanders in Week 6
- Saw game action on offense and special teams in Week 7 at New England
- In Week 8 at Dallas, took an end around rush for 18 yards with 4:45 remaining in the first quarter. That stands as the longest offensive play of his career to date
- Finished with two rushes totaling 33 yards and one reception for five yards
- In Week 11 at Atlanta, took the Bears' first kickoff return 55 yards to the Falcons' 44-yard line
- It was the longest kick return since former Bears returner Cordarrelle Patterson had a 104-yard return vs. the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 16, 2020
- Rushed twice for six yards against the Jets in Week 12, and also played in over half the snaps on special teams
- Rushed one time for one yard against the Packers in Week 13, and also returned four kicks, including one return of 42 yards
- Caught one pass for three yards and had one rushing attempt against the Eagles in Week 15
- Finished with two receptions and a team-best 52 yards against Buffalo in Week 16
- Caught a 44-yard pass from Fields to set the Bears up in Buffalo territory , which is the longest offensive play of his career
- Also had four kick returns totaling 113 yards, including a long of 40 yards
- Had one rush for 13 yards and also had a career-best 63-yard kickoff return at Detroit in Week 17
- In Week 18 vs. Minnesota, caught one pass for 28 yards and had one rushing attempt that went for a 42-yard touchdown, the second score of his rookie season
- Also had four kick returns, with a long of 25 yards
- In doing so, he becomes the first Bears player to record a reception, rush and return all above 25+ yards in the same game since Walter Payton on Dec. 21, 1975 ... He's the first NFL player to do so since Chase Edmonds on Oct. 11, 2020