Don’t Sleep On Charlie Jones
Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Charlie Jones was the Cincinnati Bengals’ fourth-round pick out of Purdue just an offseason ago. His contributions to Cincinnati’s offense were quite limited in 2023, as he totaled just seven receptions and 64 yards in his entire rookie campaign.
Granted, many factors came into play for his limited offensive contribution. He missed six games due to a thumb injury. Before that, on top of Joe Burrow’s preseason calf injury, which threw the entire offense for a loop in training camp, Jones himself suffered a torn labrum last August. In addition, the Bengals had a surplus of talent at the wide receiver position, which at times made Jones the odd man out in the offense.
On special teams, however, Jones was much more of a factor. He was the primary punt returner when healthy, with Trenton Irwin filling the role during Jones’ time on injured reserve. He even scored the Bengals’ first touchdown of the year by taking a Ravens’ punt to the house in Week 2.
This was so impressive from Charlie Jones
Feels like it’s been so long since the Bengals had a TD threat at PR. They might have one now. pic.twitter.com/QWRhuC1j9W
— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) September 18, 2023
Per NextGenStats, the speedster topped out at 21.0 miles per hour on the return.
None of this is to say that this is the writing on the wall for Jones to merely be a special teams staple for his entire career. In fact, it is quite the contrary.
The Bengals drafted Jones after a prolific senior season at Purdue. In 2022, he was in the top five in all three of the receiving Triple Crown categories (receptions, yards, and touchdowns). He led the entire NCAA with 110 receptions, he was second with 1,361 yards, and he was tied for fifth with 12 touchdowns.
While he couldn’t live up to his heavily productive season at Purdue in his first year with Cincinnati, Jones steadily began to contribute more to the offense as the year went on. In Week 18 against the Browns, he had three catches for 49 yards, including a season-long catch of 35 yards.
I’m really looking forward to Charlie Jones making a huge leap in year two. Guy has so much ability and upside. pic.twitter.com/kgOEbDRkns
— We Like The Bengals (@FUWLTBengals) July 21, 2024
Jones’ impressive final game, combined with a full offseason to gain a rapport with Burrow, will provide building blocks for a major leap into his second year as a pro. Assuming they both don’t suffer any health setbacks, the opportunity for them to build a connection with one another is monumental. With the need to eventually replace Tee Higgins, it’s imperative for the coaching staff to give Jones more of an opportunity to earn significant playing time.
“He didn’t get a ton of opportunity just because of the roles a lot of different guys played for us and Trenton Irwin has earned our trust as well,” head coach Zac Taylor said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I think Charlie has continued to improve. I’m really excited to see Charlie in year two. He’s got one year in the system under his belt. He’s got a chance to really work at it in the offseason… I think the sky’s the limit for Charlie. He’s got great speed, great quickness. I’m excited to watch him have a great year in 2024.”
New offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher also showed optimism that his second-year receiver can make a sophomore jump.
“The history of the NFL is littered with guys who made huge jumps between Years 1 and 2,” Pitcher said. “Charlie has shown everything from a work ethic standpoint, from how hard he practices, to how important you feel it is to him that he has a chance to make the jump.”
The path is open for Jones to become the Bengals’ Swiss Army Knife at wideout. In addition to retaining his starting job as the primary punt returner, he has a path to play a bulk of the snaps at slot receiver. Jones played 70% of his offensive snaps in 2023 from the slot position, including 11 out of 14 in his final game of 2024. In fact, Jones said prior to the 2023 NFL Draft that he models his game after one of the best slot receivers of the last decade.
“I’ve been watching Cooper Kupp for a long time now,” Jones said. “He’s got a lot of teaching tape stuff on YouTube that he actually walks through himself, footwork stuff that I’ve been trying to watch and breakdown myself.”
In addition, with the new kickoff rules, Jones has an opportunity to split kickoff return duties with Trayveon Williams. Most of his kick-returning experience came in 2021 at Iowa, where he averaged 26.7 yards per return. In his second to last game of the year against Illinois, he returned a kick 100 yards, all the way to the house.
TO THE HOUSE !!! 🔥
Charlie Jones remonte le terrain sur 100 yards pour un TD sur retour de kickoff qui ramène les Hawkeyes à 3 points.
Iowa 7, Illinois 10pic.twitter.com/WYywNmWYQb
— TBP College Football (@thebluepennant) November 20, 2021
In giving advice to rookie receiver Jermaine Burton, Jones stressed that players should do exactly what he did in his rookie season: be willing to contribute wherever they are needed, even if it’s not immediately in their desired role.
“Sometimes guys get a little discouraged when they gotta play some special teams things that they haven’t done, but really, it could be a thing that gets you into the starting spot on offense or on defense,” Jones said. “So, just have an open mind about playing on special teams.”
Jones did exactly that and embraced the special teams role. With his contributions on special teams, his increased production towards the end of his rookie season, and the return of a healthy Burrow, there is no reason that Charlie Jones can’t make a massive leap in his second NFL season.
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