The New England Patriots haven’t treated cornerback Jack Jones like a developmental rookie.
Maybe he’s on the smaller side, weighing just 175 pounds. Maybe he was a fourth-round pick. But in minicamp and organized team activities, the Patriots gave Jones more and more work with the first-team defense. His college coach at Herm Edwards said he thinks Jones could be a CB1 — and in short time. But OTAs and minicamp are unpadded and with no contact. A lighter player has an easier path to shine. When training camp rolls around, the Patriots will strap on pads. That’ll be a totally new test for Jones.
Will he be working to get bigger in the next month?
“Of course I need to add some weight. I’m a little small but I try to play as big as possible” Jones said after practice on Wednesday.
Jack Jones says he’s trying to get bigger this season. (He’s a skinny dude.) In the meantime, Jones says he plans to “play big.” That includes in his hotly contested practice matchups with Nelson Agholor that proved must-watch at minicamp. pic.twitter.com/Dbx47JF25h
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) June 9, 2022
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Jones spent Day 2 of minicamp blanketing receiver Nelson Agholor, who looks reinvigorated in the Patriots offense after a rough first season with the team. Jones, however, kept pace with the veteran receiver. Agholor got the better of Jones for a long reception of, maybe, 50 yards. But Jones managed a pass breakup and a few other big plays in coverage of Aghlor.
“I knew Nelly before I got up here. I used to see him at USC,” Jones said, having attended USC and ASU during his college years. “I love competing with him. We just make each other better and just keep stacking up days.”
