How was linebacker Christian Jones stock affected by his first performance in the preseason?
Jones started the preseason firmly on the roster bubble. He can play inside and outside and is mainly a factor on special teams. Entering camp, Jones, along with John Timu, Jonathan Anderson, Dan Skuta and Sam Acho were all lumped in together as versatile linebackers who can play special teams. Only two or three of the group were going to make the team, and the play of each would dictate who made it.
In an early reaction, Jones may be one of the highest on the totem pole. Danny Trevathan did not play, but it is still worth noting that Jones was the third inside backer to see the field. Nick Kwiatkowski and Jerrell Freeman are ahead of him, but Jones could be considered the third or fourth inside linebacker of the group, depending on the status of Trevathan.
Jones finished the game with two tackles and a ton of special teams snaps. He is firmly ahead of both Anderson and Timu on defense and special teams and did nothing in the first preseason game to force the Bears to think otherwise.
Jones has been noted already during practice sessions as a player who may have taken a step forward. He showed that the hype may be real and that we may be able to see even more out of Jones in 2017. Early into the preseason, he is going to be one of the Bears worth keeping around and should have an inside track to a roster spot in the early going of the preseason.