The Denver Broncos picked up cornerback/returner Cyrus Jones off waivers last week, adding more depth on defense and on special teams.
Jones (5-10, 200 pounds) entered the league as a second-round pick out of Alabama with the Patriots in 2016. He failed to live up to his draft status as a cornerback and has bounced back and forth between New England’s roster and the Ravens’ roster over the last four years.
Jones has been used primarily as a returner in the NFL and he’s been plagued by fumbles, fumbling once on a kickoff and six times on punt returns. Denver may use him in nickel situations.
“He’s obviously a DB who has played some nickel in his past,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said on Nov. 14. “He’s primarily been a punt returner where he’s gotten most of his time. We’ll see.”
Diontae Spencer has been Denver’s returner this year and it sounds like his job in safe. Jones will likely serve as a rotational defensive back and as a backup returner.
“We liked him to some degree,” Fangio said of Jones. “We want to see what he is as a DB first and foremost and then that he can return punts is a bonus.”
Jones, 25, has recorded 31 tackles in his career and has totaled 655 return yards (on kickoffs and punts) and has scored one touchdown.
