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Charlie Jones (American football, born 1998)

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Charlie Jones
refer to caption
Jones with the Purdue Boilermakers in 2022
No. 15 – Cincinnati Bengals
Position:Wide receiver
Return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1998-10-29) October 29, 1998 (age 26)
Deerfield, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Deerfield (IL)
College:Buffalo (2017–2019)
Iowa (2019–2021)
Purdue (2022)
NFL draft:2023 / round: 4 / pick: 131
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 10, 2024
Receptions:8
Receiving yards:69
Return yards:547
Return touchdowns:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Charlie Jones (born October 29, 1998) is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Buffalo, Iowa, and Purdue. Jones was an All-American with Purdue in 2022, and was selected by the Bengals in the 2023 NFL draft.

Early life

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Jones grew up in Deerfield, Illinois and attended Deerfield High School.[1] He committed to play college football at Buffalo over offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, and Wyoming.[2]

College career

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Buffalo

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Jones began his collegiate career at Buffalo. He redshirted his true freshman season.[3] As a redshirt freshman, Jones caught 18 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns and returned 15 kickoffs for 289 yards.[4] Jones said he "liked it at Buffalo" where he "got to learn a lot as a young player" but, after star players Tyree Jackson, Anthony Johnson and K. J. Osborn either declared for the NFL draft or transferred, Jones also entered the transfer portal. He felt he could "play against the best of the best" and expected to receive scholarship offers from more prestigious programs but received none. Nonetheless, he chose to transfer to Iowa where he felt "walk-ons traditionally get a fair chance."[5]

Iowa

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Jones joined the Iowa Hawkeyes as a walk-on and sat out his first season at Iowa due to NCAA transfer rules.[6] He entered his first season at Iowa as the team's primary punt returner.[7] Jones finished the 2020 season with 21 punt returns for 221 yards and one touchdown and was named second team All-Big Ten Conference as a returner by the league's coaches.[8] He was also awarded a scholarship during the season.[9] As a redshirt senior, Jones was named first team All-Big Ten and the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year after he returned 37 punts for 285 yards and also returned 25 kickoffs for 635 yards and one touchdown.[10][11] He was also a starter at receiver for the Hawkeyes and had 21 receptions for 323 yards and three touchdowns.[12] After the season, Jones entered the NCAA transfer portal.[13]

Purdue

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Jones ultimately transferred to Purdue for his final season of eligibility.[14] Jones took the opportunity to reunite with childhood friend, Aidan O’Connell, who was the current starting quarterback for the Boilermakers. At Purdue, Jones caught 110 passes, becoming just one of three Boilermakers in history to record 100 catches in a single season and set the school-record for receiving yards in a single season with 1,361 yards. Jones’ 12 receiving touchdowns are also the 4th most in school history in a single season. Following the 2022 Big Ten Championship Game, Jones decided to forgo participation in the 2023 Citrus Bowl and prepare for the 2023 NFL draft. Jones was a consensus Second Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten recipient. Jones led the nation in receptions, finished second in receiving yards, and fifth in receiving touchdowns.

Statistics

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Season Games Receiving Rushing Kick Returns Punt Returns
GP GS Rec Yards Avg TD Att Yards Avg TD Ret Yards Avg TD Ret Yards Avg TD
Buffalo Bulls
2017 Redshirt Redshirt
2018 12 1 18 395 21.9 3 0 0 0.0 0 15 289 19.3 0 0 0 0.0 0
Iowa Hawkeyes
2019 Sat out due to NCAA transfer rules
2020 7 0 0 0 0.0 0 2 38 19.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 22 223 10.1 1
2021 14 10 21 323 15.4 3 7 8 1.1 0 25 635 25.4 1 37 285 7.7 0
Purdue Boilermakers
2022 13 13 110 1,361 12.4 12 2 3 1.5 0 5 78 15.6 0 18 114 6.3 0
Career 46 24 149 2,079 14.0 18 11 49 4.5 0 45 1,002 22.3 1 77 622 8.1 1

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11+3⁄8 in
(1.81 m) 		175 lb
(79 kg) 		31+5⁄8 in
(0.80 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.43 s 1.51 s 2.55 s 4.15 s 6.84 s 36.5 in
(0.93 m)		 10 ft 4 in
(3.15 m)		 13 reps
Sources:[15][16]

Jones was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round, 131st overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft.[17]

2023

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In the Bengals' Week 2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Jones would score his first NFL touchdown on an 81-yard punt return; this would also be the first touchdown of the Bengals' 2023 season.[18] He suffered a thumb injury in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams and was placed on injured reserve on September 29, 2023.[19] He was activated on November 16.[20]

2024

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Jones was named as the Bengals' main punt returner to begin the 2024 season. He was also listed as the team's second-string slot receiver behind Andrei Iosivas and the third-string kick returner behind Chase Brown and Trayveon Williams on the depth chart.[21] He caught a five-yard pass in the Bengals' Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots.[22] In Week 7 against the Browns, Jones had a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff in a 21–14 win, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[23][24]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Kick returns Punt returns Fumbles
GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2023 CIN 11 0 9 7 64 9.1 35 0 2 13 6.5 7 0 – – – – – 23 248 10.8 81 1 0 0
2024 CIN 8 0 1 1 5 5.0 5 0 – – – – – 5 200 40.0 100 1 14 99 7.1 23 0 2 1
Career 19 0 10 8 69 8.6 35 0 2 13 6.5 7 0 5 200 40.0 100 1 37 347 9.4 81 1 2 1

References

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  1. ^ Narang, Bobby (July 17, 2016). "Deerfield has a hard time keeping Charlie Jones off the football field". Lake County News-Sun. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  2. ^ Narang, Bobby (February 3, 2017). "Deerfield's Charlie Jones makes his move, commits to Buffalo football". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  3. ^ King, Sam (September 2, 2022). "Now at third stop, Purdue receiver Charlie Jones shows off offensive talent". Journal & Courier. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Dochterman, Scott (November 9, 2020). "How newcomers and persistence keyed Michigan State romp: Iowa takeaways". The Athletic. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  5. ^ Gaughan, Mark (March 4, 2023). "Former UB WR Charlie Jones led nation in catches, preps for NFL career". Buffalo News. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "Transfer returner, Aussie punter spark Iowa's special teams". USA Today. Associated Press. November 12, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Johnson, Jeff (November 7, 2020). "Charlie Jones takes advantage of his opportunity at Iowa". The Gazette. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "Ranking the Big Ten: Return Specialist". Rivals.com. July 17, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  9. ^ Brown, Rick (August 24, 2021). "Hard Work Key to Charlie Jones' Success". SI.com. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Carmin, Mike (August 17, 2022). "Purdue football position breakdown: Veterans, transfers fuel special teams". Journal & Courier. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Steppe, John (November 30, 2021). "Iowa's Riley Moss, Charlie Jones earn Big Ten honors". The Gazette. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Carmin, Mike (June 3, 2022). "Purdue football: Iowa transfer Charlie Jones can help boost return game". Journal & Courier. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Howe, Rob (May 25, 2022). "Iowa Receiver Charlie Jones Enters Portal". SI.com. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  14. ^ Fortuna, Matt; Dochterman, Scott (June 3, 2022). "Former Iowa WR Charlie Jones transfers to Big Ten foe Purdue: Source". The Athletic. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  15. ^ "Charlie Jones Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  16. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Charlie Jones College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  17. ^ Hobson, Geoff (April 29, 2023). "Bengals Select Purdue WR/Returner Charlie Jones In Fourth Round". Bengals.com. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Baby, Ben (September 17, 2023). "Bengals' Charlie Jones returns punt 81 yards for TD vs. Ravens". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  19. ^ "Bengals Roster Moves: LB Acquired, WR Placed On Reserve/Injured". Bengals.com. September 29, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  20. ^ "Bengals Roster Moves: Charlie Jones to Active Roster, WR Elevated for Thursday Night Football". Bengals.com. November 16, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  21. ^ Garrison, Drew (September 3, 2024). "Bengals release Week 1 depth chart". Cincy Jungle. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  22. ^ "New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals - September 8th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  23. ^ Baby, Ben (October 20, 2024). "Bengals' Charlie Jones scores 100-yard TD on opening kick vs. Browns". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  24. ^ Baca, Michael (October 23, 2024). "Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, Eagles RB Saquon Barkley highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
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