Healthy Again, Cincinnati Bengals’ Charlie Jones Eyeing Triple-Threat Role This Year

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Charlie Jones returned to action Thursday night by doing something he’d never done before.

And he did it in impressive fashion.

Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons sent Jones back with Trayveon Williams as the two returns on the opening kickoff.

Indianapolis kicker Spencer Shrader sent the ball to Jones, who returned it 48 yards.

Bengals’ Charlie Jones Eyeing Expanded Role in Second Season

“It felt good,” Jones said. “The blocking was great. It was my first play out there, so obviously I was excited. And it was a good start for me confidence-wise, and good momentum going in the season.”

It was the first time he had ever returned a kickoff in an NFL regular or preseason game.

“It was my first time really doing it live,” Jones said. “I saw the lane pretty quickly and just knew that this play was such a fast-hitting play that I couldn’t slow down through the lane. Great blocking. Hopefully we continue to have plays like that.”

And hopefully, Jones said, he’s the one making them after returning 45 kickoffs for a 22.3-yard average in college.

The Bengals have had seven different players return kickoffs in the preseason, and four of them, including Jones, should be on the 53-man roster when it’s announced Tuesday – although one, Trayveon Williams, could be gone by Wednesday.

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Jones led the Bengals in punt returns (23) and punt-return average (10.8) last year as a rookie, but he missed six weeks with a broken thumb suffered in Week 3.

He said after Thursday night’s game that he would be comfortable handling both the kickoff and punt return duties as well as playing his role at wide receiver.

“It’s gonna be up to the way I handle myself, and it’s their decision. But I’m here to do whatever it is that they need me to do.”

It was only a couple of weeks ago when it looked as though another injury might have derailed Jones’ development.

Jones banged knees with a teammate and left the Aug. 9 practice on a cart, but he quickly returned to the practice field for a couple of practices before taking part in some individual drills on Aug. 13, and he fielded punts on Aug. 15 at the joint practice in Chicago.

Jones warmed up in uniform in Chicago, his hometown, but he did not play in the game.

He was back in 11-on-11 drills Monday and again Tuesday in the joint practice against the Colts, and he saw his first preseason action Thursday night.

“I think I’m picking up right where I left off before I got hurt a little bit. I’m feeling healthy. I’m 100%. So I’m looking to continue to make strides.”