Jones-ing to play again
Cyrus aims to make big impact on D
‘It was exciting being back on the football field after watching for so long.’ — CYRUS JONES (above) on returning to practice action
FOXBORO — Cyrus Jones was purely a spectator for his second NFL season.
When he wasn’t rehabbing from a torn ligament in his right knee, Jones observed the game, analyzed it from a new angle. He watched as a fellow cornerback in his class, Jonathan Jones, quickly ascended the Patriots depth chart. He witnessed the cornerbacks unit come together after a shaky start.
What Jones had no intentions of watching: The tape from his rookie season.
“No, I don’t even remember what happened that year,” Jones told The Herald after yesterday’s practice. “That’s out of my memory. I’m just focused on trying to be the best player coming back.”
A year ago, Jones spoke openly about his struggles as a rookie. He once told The Baltimore Sun that his 2016 season, marred by issues with judgment and ball security as a returner, was “hell.” Jones said he felt “cursed,” and reached a point where he didn’t even want to play. He was always candid with reporters even as his rookie season was spiraling downward, admitting that his confidence had wavered.
Today, there are two layers to Jones’ comeback bid. He’s attempting to bounce back from a less-than-ideal start to his NFL career, and he’s trying to do so while coming off an ACL tear. It won’t be easy.
The Patriots have brought Jones along slowly as he returns from the knee injury. And yesterday marked a small, yet not insignificant, milestone for Jones, who was removed from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list prior to the preseason opener. It was the first time all summer that Jones took any reps with the defense in 11-on-11s.
“It was exciting being back on the football field after watching for so long,” Jones said. “It was good to get out there and run around with the guys.”
Jones’ participation was limited, only seeing the field for “one or two” snaps. But it’s a sign of progress for Jones, who faces plenty of competition at cornerback.
Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, Duke Dawson and Jonathan Jones seem guaranteed to make the team. Jason McCourty is an established player who should contribute. Rookies J.C. Jackson and Keion Crossen have flashed at times. This is a crowded group.
For Jones, the key might be his punt-return ability. He was electric at Alabama, and even showed glimpses of his potential during a brutal rookie campaign: A 60-yard punt return versus the Panthers in the preseason and a 45-yard kickoff return (on which he fumbled and the Pats recovered) against the Seahawks stood out.
And prior to his ACL tear, which occurred in the 2017 preseason finale, Jones appeared poised to take hold of punt-return duties. He was the club’s only returner in the first three preseason games. His 32-yarder against the Texans showcased his instincts for the position — he side-stepped a tackler as he caught the ball — and his game-breaking speed.
In recent practices, Jones has spent time fielding punts from Ryan Allen and Corey Bojorquez while the rest of the team takes part in positional drills. Jones said punt-return duties were “gradually” incorporated into his routine as he rehabbed his knee.
At the moment, the Patriots do not have a clear option to return punts. Julian Edelman is suspended four games, and the team might be reluctant to put him back there when he returns. Rex Burkhead, Chris Hogan and Patrick Chung have fielded punts in practice, but none of the three have much experience doing so in games. Riley McCarron and Braxton Berrios are possibilities, but neither can match Jones’ dynamic ability.
The next step in Jones’ comeback will be game action. The Patriots will surely want to see how Jones fares in the preseason before handing him the punt-return job heading into Week 1. And after a full year of sitting and watching, Jones will be eager to suit up.
“It gave me a chance, I guess, to see the game from another aspect,” Jones said. “You’ve got to find the positives in it. It definitely makes you appreciate the game more.”