WR desperation pushes Jaguars to bring in former 3rd-round speedster

For the better part of the last two weeks, AFC teams have been trading haymakers. The Bills realized they needed a wide receiver, so they went and got Amari Cooper. The Chiefs realized now they needed a wide receiver, so they went and got DeAndre Hopkins. The Jets got their guy – someone's guy, at least – and even today, the Ravens got peer-pressured into trading for Diontae Johnson. The division's elite teams are all searching for that final move that'll spark a Super Bowl run – and now the Jaguars have answered.

According to NFL Insider Ari Meirov, the team signed former Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones on Tuesday afternoon. Jones, a 2022 third round pick, was released by Chicago before their Week 8 game against the Commanders, and cleared waivers this week. According to the team's PR Twitter account, they signed him to the practice squad:

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Velus Jones doesn't move the needle much for the Jaguars, but it's worth a shot

There's a reason Jones was available, so it's not like the Jags pulled off some coup for the third-year wide receiver. After getting drafted 71st out of Tennessee in 2022, Jones struggled to carve out a role for himself in Chicago both as a wide receiver, and then later as Cordarrelle Patterson-type wideout/running back hybrid.

In 27 career games, Jones has 19 rushes for 165 yards and one touchdown. Over that span he also had 12 catches for 135 yards. He was the Bears' primary punt returner for stretches during his time there, but ball security – he had three last season and one already this year – continued to be an issue. With the offseason additions of Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, along with a relatively deep running back room, there just wasn't a spot on the roster for Jones, who many thought wouldn't make the team out of camp.

However, Jones' speed is undeniable, and it's not like guys have never figured it out later into their careers. Even with the Christian Kirk injury, Jones has an uphill battle to make it onto Jacksonville's active roster in the near future. When you're 2-6, though, it never hurts to take a flier on a guy like him.