NFL CAREER – After appearing in three games for the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers in 2024, Velus Jones Jr. (first name pronounced vay-lus) signed with the Saints in the 2025 offseason. In three seasons between Chicago (2022-24) and Carolina (2024), he appeared in 29 games, making two starts, with 20 rushes for 165 yards (8.3 avg.) with a 42-yard rushing touchdown and 12 receptions for 135 yards. Has also been a key contributor in the return game, adding five punt returns for 35 yards and 40 kickoff returns for 1,061 yards (26.5 avg.).
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms with New Orleans on a one-year contract (UFA-Car.), 3/17/25; Signed to Carolina Panthers active roster from Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad, 12/10/24; Elevated to Jaguars active roster (standard elevation), 11/16/24; Signed to Jaguars practice squad, 10/30/24; Waived by Chicago, 10/26/24; Signed a four year contract with the Chicago Bears, 5/17/22; Selected by Chicago in the third round (71st overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
2024 – Played in three contests between Chicago and Carolina and had three carries for 11 yards and an eight-yard reception...Added an eight-yard grab and two rushes for 11 yards in opener vs Tennessee, Sept. 8…After joining Carolina, played vs. Dallas, Dec. 15…Returned a kickoff 19 yards at Tampa Bay, Dec. 29. 2023 – Saw offensive and special teams snaps in 14 games for Bears, adding eight carries for 51 yards, four grabs for 20 yards, 16 kick returns for 435 yards (27.2 avg.) and four tackles…Added two carries for 15 yards, a five-yard reception and three kickoff returns for 90 yards (30.0 avg.) for a career-high 110 all-purpose yards vs. Minnesota, Oct. 15…Added a four-yard grab and returned one kickoff 24 yards at Los Angeles Chargers, Oct. 29…Recorded one assisted punt coverage stop at New Orleans, Nov. 5…Posted a 11-yard reception and returned two kickoffs for 51 yards vs. Detroit, Dec. 10…Rushed twice for 23 yards (11.5 avg.) at Cleveland, Dec. 17…Recorded a two-yard carry and two kickoff returns for 54 yards (27.0 avg.) vs. Atlanta, Dec. 31…Posted four kickoff returns for 113 yards (28.3 avg.) at Green Bay, 1/7/24. 2022 – Appeared in 12 games with two starts as a contributor on offense and special teams, recording nine carries for 103 yards (11.4 avg.) and a touchdown and seven receptions for 107 yards (15.3 avg.) and another score. In the return game, added five punt returns for 45 yards and 22 kick returns for 607 yards (27.6 avg.) with a long of 63 yards…Made NFL debut in Week Four, adding two kick returns for 44 yards and two punt returns for 19 yards at New York Giants, Oct. 2…Added a nine-yard TD reception and two kick returns for 39 yards at Minnesota, Oct. 9…Posted two carries for 33 yards (16.5 avg.), a five-yard reception and a 22-yard kick return at Dallas, Oct. 30…Returned opening kickoff 55 yards at Atlanta, Nov. 20…Returned four kickoffs for 114 yards vs. Green Bay, Dec. 4…Added a three-yard reception and brought back two kickoffs for 53 yards vs. Philadelphia, Dec. 18…Recorded two receptions for a career-high 52 yards (26.0 avg.), including a career-long 44-yard grab, to go with four kickoff returns for 113 yards vs. Buffalo, Dec. 24…Posted one 13-yard reception and a career-long 63-yard kickoff return at Detroit, 1/1/23…Recorded career-long 42 yard rush for a TD, a 28-yard reception and four kick returns for 82 yards vs. Minnesota, 1/8/23. Became first Bear to record a reception, rush and return all 25 yards or longer in the same game since Walter Payton on Dec. 21, 1975, and the first NFL player to do so since Chase Edmunds on Oct. 11, 2020.
COLLEGE – 2021 Southeastern Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Year and All-SEC first-team selection...Spent first four seasons at Southern Cal from 2016-19 before transferring to Tennessee in 2020...Played in 61 career games with 21 starts (23 games/15 starts at UT)...Hauled in 120 passes for 1,434 yards and 11 touchdowns for six-year college career...At UT, caught 84 passes for 1,087 yards and ten TDs...In three seasons at USC, logged 36 receptions for 347 yards to go with 1,947 kickoff return yards on a school-record 81 runbacks...Finished college career as the FBS' active leader in kickoff return yards with 2,973 and averaged 24.4 yards per return...At UT in 2021, played in all 13 games with nine starts. Only player in the nation with over 800+ receiving yards, 200+ punt return yards and 600+ kickoff return yards...Finished his USC career second all-time in kickoff return yards, 194 behind record-holder Adoree' Jackson...Scored 14 TDs three different ways at the college level – receiving (11), rushing (1) and kick return (2)...Owned three 100-yard receiving games with all three occurring at UT...Racked up 4,738 all-purpose yards in his career, including 2,416 at Tennessee and 2,322 at Southern California...Logged 272 career punt return yards – all at UT – and averaged 15.1 yards per return...Finished ninth in UT career kickoff return yards (1,026), sixth in school history in kickoff return average (25.0) and ninth in kick returns (41)...Selected to play in the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl…Earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Southern California...Earned master's at Tennessee in agricultural leadership, education and communications.
PERSONAL – One of the top prospects out of Alabama for the Class of 2016 from Saraland HS...2015 Prep Star All-Southeast Region, USA Today All-Alabama first-team, AL.com Super All-State first-team, Alabama Sportswriters Association All-State Class 6A first-team and All-Coastal Alabama first-team as senior wideout. Hauled in 48 receptions for 945 yards (19.7 avg.) with 10 TDs…As a junior in 2014, earned All-State/All-Region after collecting 51 receptions for 1,118 yards (21.9 avg.) with nine TDs...Helped lead Saraland to the 2014 Class 6A state championship game...Has participated in NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative, wearing shoes bringing attention to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation…In 2024, visited with more than 700 children from the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA organizations across the Carolinas who were invited to the Panthers' "Joy to the Carolinas" Christmas charitable event…Born in Mobile, Ala. on May 11, 1997.
