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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Danny Jaillet

Patriots CB coach reveals criticized veteran defender played hurt

New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones is finally feeling good health-wise after battling injuries throughout the season.

Jones struggled earlier in the year, but he has looked more like himself in recent outings. Last Sunday, he frustrated Buffalo Bills wideout Khalil Shakir by denying him a touchdown reception and helping to hold him to two catches for only 22 yards.

Not many outsiders were aware of the injuries Jones has been working through, and Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino touched on that subject when speaking with media members.

“You guys don’t see it, but Jon was banged up a lot,” Pellegrino said, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “He’s finally feeling good. That early part of the year, he was hurting. He was really, really hurting. He fought through it, didn’t complain, didn’t ask for plays off. I have to protect him from himself, because he’s like ‘I’m going’ — that’s the type of competitor he is. An old-school football player.”

Jones, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, is set to be a free agent at the end of the season. So continuing to play at a high level could be to his benefit.

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