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)

Height, weight: 6-feet, 200 pounds

College: Tennessee Volunteers

Relative Athletic Score: 7.11

2025 salary cap hit: $1,150,000

A two-time Alabama all-state selection at Saraland High School, Jones would commit to the University of Southern California. After redshirting his first year, Jones caught 6 passes for 46 yards and averaged 24.5 yards as a kickoff returner in 2017 for USC. Between 2017 and 2019 for the Trojans, Jones had a kick return average of 24 yards with 1 touchdown and caught a total of 36 passes for 347 yards and a score.

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After the 2019 season, he’d transfer to Tennessee. In 2020 with the Volunteers, Jones had 22 catches for 280 yards and 3 scores while leading the SEC with 398 kick return yards. Jones had his breakout year as a receiver in 2021, pulling in 62 receptions for 807 yards and 7 touchdowns. He again led the SEC in kick return yardage (698), with his 27.1 average finishing second in the conference. His 15.1 average on punt returns and 272 punt return yards also led the conference, leading to 1st Team All-SEC and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

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.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Velus Jones is the Saints Player of Day 13