Before Drake Maye’s clutch performance against the Tennessee Titans, the New England Patriots’ opponent faced a key decision on a punt play: should they kick to Marcus Jones or avoid him?
The Titans chose to punt to Jones, and it backfired. The third-year returner caught the ball at the Patriots’ 25-yard line and raced all the way to midfield, giving Maye and the offense a much better position to work with. Eleven plays later, they scored an improbable touchdown, sending the game into overtime as time ran out.
Jones playing a pivotal role in that moment isn’t a surprise. He’s been one of the Patriots’ top performers, particularly as their punt returner.
Returning to the All-Pro form he showed as a rookie, Jones ranks second among qualifying punt returners with an average of 15.6 yards per return, trailing only Kalif Raymond of the Detroit Lions (16.6) in that category.
In total, Jones has returned 17 punts for 266 yards, including a 25-yard return against Tennessee and a 44-yard return in the same game. He also had a 62-yard return against the New York Jets the week before, which set up another New England touchdown.
So, what makes Jones so effective? According to him, it’s the support from his teammates and the coaching staff, led by special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer.
“First off, I’d say ‘Spring Show’ has been giving us a great message in every meeting, stressing how important special teams are,” Jones said. “Also, the schemes we’ve been using and the blocking from guys like [Brenden] Schooler, [JaMycal] Hasty, and the corners — Marco [Wilson], [Marcellus] Dial — making sure everyone’s doing their part to give me a chance to return the ball. It’s definitely a team effort.”
Despite some inconsistencies in New England’s special teams this season — with kickoff returns not yielding many yards, a touchdown allowed in Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Joey Slye converting just 80% of his field goals — Jones has been a bright spot. While he’s quick to credit his coaches and teammates, he also takes responsibility for his part in the returns.
“The first thing I always look at is how the ball is kicked, whether it’s a high punt or a long one with little hang time,” Jones explained. “Hang time is crucial in deciding whether I return it. Then it’s about tracking the nose of the ball and checking where everyone is. Once I catch it, my offensive instincts take over, and I focus on setting up blocks and making a play.”
Those offensive instincts have been apparent since Jones joined the Patriots as a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s not only been a standout on special teams, but he’s also played 19 snaps on offense, gaining 78 yards and scoring a touchdown.
Although New Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has yet to use Jones on offense in 2024, his rare ability in the return game has allowed him to make a significant impact on the New England offense without playing a single snap for them.
