Apparently, former third-round pick Velus Jones Jr. got quite the kick out of watching his former Chicago Bears team eliminated from the NFL playoffs.
Following the Bears’ heartbreaking 20-17 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs, Jones seized the opportunity to hop on X and mock his former team with his first post in nearly two years, drawing the ire of Chicago’s fans.
Jones, a 2022 third-round pick, was the first wide receiver that general manager Ryan Poles selected in his tenure, taking a chance on his experience coming out of Tennessee and sticking with him through his frequent fumbling issues over his first two seasons.
Ultimately, though, the Bears ran out of patience with Jones when he muffed his first kick return of the 2024 season. They benched him afterward and cut ties weeks later.
Jones’ new station with the Seattle Seahawks — the No. 1 seed in the NFC and the team that will meet the Rams in the NFC Championship Game — might explain why he felt emboldened enough to mock the Bears, but it isn’t as though he has participated much.
Jones is a member of the Seahawks’ practice squad, and while he played in three games for them as an elevation from Weeks 13-15, he logged just four carries for 32 yards and assisted on one tackle in a blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Seahawks could elevate him in the playoffs, but they did not do so for their divisional-round matchup.
Doubtful Bears fans will have any regrets about letting Jones go, especially now.
Velus Jones Jr.’s Fumbles Lost Him Spot With Bears
Jones seems to hold some resentment toward the Bears for how things ended for him in Chicago, but the 28-year-old has nobody to blame but himself for falling out of favor.
The Bears believed Jones could be a versatile asset for their roster when they took him with the 71st overall pick in the 2022 draft, liking not only his pass-catching ability but also that he could work out of the backfield and operate as their top return specialist. While he did wear all three hats in Chicago, though, he was categorically a disaster.
Jones showed some potential on offense as a rookie with nine carries for 103 yards and a touchdown and seven catches for 107 yards and another score, but he struggled grow as a route-runner, relying too much on speed and falling by the wayside once the team acquired more meaningful pass-catcher talent, such as veteran receiver DJ Moore.
Jones’ biggest mark came on special teams, but that, too, was more bad than good. He netted more than 1,000 return yards on 39 kick returns over his first three seasons, but he also fumbled four times as a returner and muffed several more kicks along the way.
All told, Jones departed Chicago with 12 career receptions and four career fumbles. He has also done nothing to improve those numbers in subsequent stops with the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks, playing 12 total snaps of offense.
Ryan Poles Has Done Better at WR in Recent Drafts
Poles clearly missed on Jones. He also missed on his 2023 fourth-round receiver pick, Scott, who missed the cut for their 2025 roster and did not play a snap this season.
His more recent receiver picks, though? Those have been considerably better.
Poles may have secured the Bears a long-term receiving duo in their past two drafts, selecting Rome Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick in 2024 and picking up rookie star Luther Burden III with the No. 39 overall pick in 2025 after his unexpected drop.
While Odunze missed five games and struggled when playing through his foot fracture in 2025, he led the team in catches, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and targets until late in the season and only tapered off when the Bears sat him to let his foot heal. If he returns healthy in 2026 and plays all season, he could easily eclipse 1,000 yards.
Meanwhile, Burden came on late in his rookie season and finished with 47 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns on 60 targets, making a compelling case to earn his own share of attention in the Bears’ passing offense. In particular, he shone with his run-after-catch ability, which he showed off multiple times in the loss to the Rams.
With those two in the mix, it is easier to overlook Poles whiffing on Jones.
Bears Mocked by Infamous Draft Bust After Playoff Loss to Rams