Jones has a good chance for a spot on the active roster or practice squad
In 13 days, the New Orleans Saints will take on the Arizona Cardinals in the Superdome to open their 2025 regular season. Velus Jones, one of the team’s offseason additions, wore No. 13 for the Saints into the final preseason game against the Denver Broncos. Listed as a running back, Jones was hoping to make the squad based on his versatility and gamebreaking speed. Here’s a closer look at his background as our Saints Player of the Day.
- Name (age): Velus Jones Jr. (28)
- Hometown: Saraland, Ala.
- Position: Running back
- Height, weight: 6-feet, 200 pounds
- College: Tennessee Volunteers
- Relative Athletic Score: 7.11
- Drafted: Round 3, 71st overall in 2022 (Chicago Bears)
- NFL experience: 3 years
- 2025 salary cap hit: $1,150,000
Jones came off the board in the 2022 draft as a third-round pick by the Chicago Bears. He’d catch 7 passes for 107 yards and a score in 12 games as a rookie, adding 103 rushing yards, 5 first downs, and a touchdown on only nine rushing attempts. He also averaged an impressive 27.1 yards as a kickoff returner. Jones dipped statistically in 2023, catching only 4 passes for 20 yards and rushing for another 51, but still averaged over 27 yards on kickoff returns. Still unable to make an offensive impact, the Bears released Jones early into the 2024 campaign. He was picked up at midseason by the Carolina Panthers, but would appear in only two games as a little-used reserve.
This spring, Jones landed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent. Listed as a wide receiver throughout most of his NFL career, Jones has seen more reps as a running back with New Orleans. In the first two preseason games, he’s rushed for 28 yards and caught 5 passes for 15 yards while averaging nearly 29 yards on four kickoff returns. Heading into roster cut down, Jones may swipe a spot on the active roster or the practice squad because of his open field skills, special teams abilities, and offensive versatility.
