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The Pro Bowl rosters were announced on Wednesday; the Patriots had a single selection: Matthew Judon. Considering the Patriots up and down, 7-7 season it is not a surprise that only one New England player was selected to take part in All-Star festivities that most fans don’t care about anyway. There is one player, though, that deserves Pro Bowl recognition that did not get it: rookie Marcus Jones.
Jones has been a do-it-all player for the Patriots, playing significant snaps at defensive back, being one of the best punt and kick returners in the NFL and contributing on offense. If there was a versatility category, Jones would have been an easy selection. Instead, I think it’s valuable to focus on the “return specialist” selection that was the Baltimore Ravens’ Devin Duvernay.
Duvernay is an excellent returner and certainly deserving of a Pro Bowl selection, but I’d give Jones a slight edge. Duvernay has a higher kickoff return average at 25.5 to 24.9 for Jones and has a kickoff return touchdown. Jones has more kickoff returns for 20+ yards (15 to 9) and both have a 40+ yard return. Both have been good punt returners, but Jones has been better. He has a higher punt return average than Duvernay (13.6 to 11.9) and has five returns of 20+ yards, which is the most in the NFL and three more than Duvernay’s two. Jones also has a punt return touchdown; a game winner against the New York Jets. Duvernay does have one more return of 40+ yards, but he also has a fumble on a punt return while Jones does not.
Neither team was able to put a touchdown on the board all game…until now! Marcus Jones returns this punt 84 yards for a touchdown, and the Patriots are now on the verge of their most important victory of the season.
pic.twitter.com/RtjXm7x57q— Brendan Connelly (@BConn63) November 20, 2022
The numbers are close and Duvernay is an elite returner, but Jones has been better as a punt returner and more explosive overall as a kick returner. Add in his contributions on defense and offense and the whole package of Jones is deserving of a Pro Bowl nod. It is usually difficult for rookies to make the Pro Bowl, but Jones is one that should get on the roster once players opt out due to injuries after the season.
The Pro Bowl isn’t as important as it used to be now that it has been reformatted but Jones should still be a part of the festivities the weekend before the Super Bowl. If he is not, it would be a shame. He has proven he deserves to be there.