New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent running back Velus Jones Jr. (first name pronounced Vay-lus) on a one-year contract.
Jones, 6-0, 200, is a three-year NFL veteran who was originally selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round (71st overall) of 2022 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. In 29 career games for the Bears (2022-24) and Carolina Panthers (2024), Jones has caught 12 passes for 135 yards with one touchdown, carried 20 times for 165 yards with a 42-yard touchdown, returned 40 kickoffs for 1,061 yards (26.5 avg.) and brought back five punts for 35 yards.
In 2024, Jones played in three games for the Bears and Panthers and caught one pass for an eight-yard gain, carried three times for 11 yards and returned two kickoffs for 19 yards. In 2023, he handled kickoff returns for Chicago starting in Week Six, handling 16 returns for 435 yards (27.2 avg.) and contributed on offense with four receptions for 20 yards and eight carries for 51 yards in 14 games played.
The Saraland, Ala. native played at Tennessee for two seasons (2020-21), where he was one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the nation after transferring from Southern California (2016-19). In his college career, he caught 120 passes for 1,434 yards with ten touchdowns, departing Knoxville as the FBS active career leader in kickoff return yards (2,973) and averaging 24.4 yards per return, racking up 4,738 all-purpose yards.
In 2021, he played all 13 games for the Volunteers, making nine starts. He was the only player in the nation to record over 800 receiving yards (807 yards on 62 receptions with seven touchdowns), 200+ punt return yards (272 yards on 18 returns), and 600+ kickoff return yards (628 yards on 23 returns, including a 96-yard touchdown). He was named the 2021 SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year and All-SEC first-team.
Jones was one of the top high school prospects out of the state of Alabama, when he was a consensus All-State selection at Saraland High School as a senior in 2015, hauling in 48 receptions for 945 yards (19.7 avg.) with ten touchdowns receiving while adding 172 rushing yards with two touchdowns and two special teams scores.
New Orleans Saints announced the club has agreed to terms with free agent running back Velus Jones Jr. Check out Jones Jr. in action with the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers during his NFL career.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) runs with the ball against the New York Jets during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) is chased by Kansas City Chiefs defenders as he runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football pre-season game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park N.Y., Saturday Aug. 10, 2024.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) runs against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL Football game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2022.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) returns a kick against the New York Giants during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) works during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 27-24.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) scores on a 9-yard touchdown reception ahead of Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 27-24. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Chicago Bears' Velus Jones Jr., returns a kickoff during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Chicago.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Chicago.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Detroit.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) runs up field during a 42-yard touchdown run in the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Chicago.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. celebrates after scoring on a 42-yard touchdown run in the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Chicago.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones, Jr. (12) stands during player introductions before playing against the Los Angeles Chargers in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. Chargers defeated the Bears 30-13.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) walks off the field after the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Chicago.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football pre-season game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park N.Y., Saturday Aug. 10, 2024.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) runs on the field as he wears cleats for the "My Cause, My Cleats" initiative during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Chicago.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) celebrates s touchdown with Tommy Sweeney (47) during the second half of an preseason NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) carries in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. runs for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. walks off the field against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. runs for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) runs during a pre-season football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Titans 24-17.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (12) stands on the field before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in Minneapolis.
