Pats Pulpit
Jones played two offensive snaps on Sunday.
Despite playing cornerback, Marcus Jones has proven to be a threat with the football in his hands. Throughout the year, Jones leads the entire league averaging 15.2 yards per punt return. He also took his lone interception 35 yards the other way.
That led to the New England coaching staff approaching Jones about lining up on offense, a role he handled sparingly in 2022 as he looked to spark a struggling Patriots offense.
“It was great. I want to say it started at the beginning of the week and went on from there,” Jones said after Sunday’s game. “It was great. It was great to hear they wanted to do that and being able to do it was a blessing.”
Against the Los Angeles Rams, Jones tallied two snaps on the offensive side of the football. While his primary focus remains on defense, it’s a role Jones is open to seeing more of down the stretch of this season.
“I’m definitely open to it,” Jones said. “But you said the line, mainly defense. But yeah. I’m definitely open to it.”
Jones’ first offensive snap against the Rams came early in the third quarter. Aligning in the slot, a boomerang motion ended with Jones taking a handoff for five yards. The following drive, Jones was used in a similar fashion only as a decoy to help set up a screen pass to Rhamondre Stevenson for a nine-yard gain.
“It was great,” Jones said. “The last time I took an offensive snap was 2022. So, it was good to be back out there.”
Jones, who actually took one offensive snap in Week 1 last year, was a difference maker for the Patriots offense back in 2022. With a late season offensive package installed, the dynamic Jones played 18 offensive snaps over the last five games of the regular season.
He finished the season with four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown — including a 48-yard touchdown where he blew past the Buffalo Bills virtually untouched off a screen pass.
With the versatile Jones open to playing more offense this season, its something offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt should continue to build on over the final six games starting this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
