One huge takeaway from the addition of Chase Claypool is how it affects Velus Jones. The slow ascension of Jones may be what triggered the Chicago Bears to trade for Claypool. He has already been demoted as a punt returner, he essentially just plays on snaps when the team can get the ball in his hands, and he dropped a huge gain against Dallas on Sunday.
When you add it all up, it does bring into question whether they want to keep playing him. This question will be brought to light stronger this weekend. Isaiah Coulter has been the Chicago Bears’ sixth wide receiver, and he has been inactive all season. The team just does not need a sixth wide receiver on gameday when it comes down to it. So, who is the sixth wide receiver with Coulter gone?
Will Chicago Bears make Velus Jones inactive vs the Miami Dolphins?
When you look at the Chicago Bears wide receiver depth chart, it is obvious that Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney are the top dogs.
They brought in N’Keal Harry from the IR, he immediately became the number three wideout. Then, there is Equanimeous St. Brown, who has been the number two all season.
The team could make ESB inactive, but they have raved about his blocking and made him a captain recently. It would be pretty surprising if he was inactive, while they kept Velus Jones active.
So, this just leaves Dante Pettis. That is the Pettis who has been playing over Jones all season. That is the Pettis that took away the punt return job from Velus Jones a few weeks ago. So, the Chicago Bears have to decide whether to give the punt return job back to Jones or make him inactive.
Jones is the kick returner, but the punt return job is more important considering how many kickoffs go into the end zone.
Beyond that, Trestan Ebner has nine returns this season, while Jones has six. Ebner has 198 yards, to 127 for Jones, so slightly better yards per return rate. The team cannot make Ebner inactive because they need the depth at running back much more than they need a sixth wide receiver.
So, it is easier to make Jones inactive and replace him with Ebner. So far, that is an upgrade. When you break it all down, each of the five wide receivers has produced more and has more defined roles. He lost his job on punt returns, and it is easy to replace him on kick returns.
The Chicago Bears should make Velus Jones inactive on Sunday against Miami.