Velus Jones Jr.

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