Draft Bust Gets One Last Chance With Panthers After Latest Injury News

The Carolina Panthers have been looking more competitive in recent weeks, improving to 4-11 for the season after their Week 16 win over the Cardinals. They have perhaps not won as many games as some fans hoped for but things are generally looking up in Carolina.

There are two more games left in the season, against the Bucs and the Falcons. Panthers fans would love to see more development and competitive football, but the last two weeks will be more about roster evaluation and seeing who can be a part of this team in 2025 and beyond.

For some players, it will be an audition to make their case for a roster spot next season. One of those guys is Velus Jones Jr.

Jones was signed to the Panthers active roster two weeks ago off the Jaguars' practice squad. He made his debut in the Week 15 matchup against the Cowboys. Now, he is about to get a big opportunity.

On Saturday, the Panthers placed star running back Chuba Hubbard on the injured reserve list. Miles Sanders and Jonathon Brooks are already on the IR and will not return again this season. This leaves Raheem Blackshear and Velus Jones Jr. as the only available running backs on the active roster.

Blackshear will likely get the majority of the workload but Jones should get plenty of touches to prove his worth.

Jones was a third-round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2022 NFL Draft but failed to make an impact in the NFL. His intriguing combination of size, speed, and athleticism never translated to success in the pros. The Bears transitioned him from wide receiver to running back before the 2024 season with the hopes of reinvigorating his career but that didn't work out and he was released during the season.

This two-game stretch could be a make-or-break opportunity for the 27-year-old. How well he uses it remains to be seen.

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