Will Chicago Bears let Velus Jones return punts?

Velus Jones is probably not happy with how his rookie season has gone. However, after dipping to a low point when he was inactive, he has at least started to see progress. The Chicago Bears rookie has adapted to become more of a 4-phase special teamer, and he got the kick return job back after an injury to Khalil Herbert.

You can argue an injury to Dane Cruikshank got him his special teams role, Herbert’s injury got him back on kick return, and now it may be an illness for Dante Pettis that has him returning punts.

Will Chicago Bears let Velus Jones return punts?

Dante Pettis has missed the last two days with an illness. While that is not quite a hamstring or calf injury, we do not know how severe, and it has kept him out for multiple days. If Pettis is still sick on Friday, there is a great chance that he will be inactive.

Beyond that, the Chicago Bears preach practice availability more than most teams. They go out of their way to play the guys who are in tune from practice and lean to sitting anyone who missed multiple sessions due to injury.

For Pettis, it is not injury, but it is two key days of practice. In those days, they probably moved to the next punt returner, and it may have been Velus Jones. If they are already comfortable with this after two days of practice, they may keep it. If it becomes a third day that Pettis misses, you can count on it.

The Chicago Bears could also opt for Darrynton Evans to return punts, and he has looked like the former third-round pick the Titans thought they drafted. Still, they had Jones returning punts to start the season. He had an issue and was costing the team games, but now the season is about finding small benefits.

If Jones messes up another punt, it is not a huge consequence, but it is probably his last strike. If he succeeds, the win outweighs any negative by a long shot.

Dante Pettis may have cracked the door open for Velus Jones to get one more shot. We will see soon.