Jacoby Jones
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Washington Commanders wide receiver Jacoby Jones.
The Washington Commanders made a move to bring a familiar face back around by signing rookie undrafted free agent wide receiver Jacoby Jones to the practice squad on November 20.
“We have made the following roster moves: Signed WR Jacoby Jones to the practice squad (and) Released S Daryl Worley from the practice squad,” the Commanders wrote on their first official X account.
The move capped a wild week for Jones, who had his first NFL reception in a 16-13 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 11 in Madrid, Spain, came home and wa released on November 18 before landing back on the practice squad.
Jones had 1 catch for 25 yards against the Dolphins.
Circuitous College Career for Jones
Jones, 6-foot-3 and 228 pounds, played for 3 different colleges over 6 seasons from 2019 to 2024, starting his career at juco powerhouse Northwest Mississippi Community College then spending 2 seasons at Ohio, where he had his best college season with 777 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022.
After breaking his leg at Ohio, Jones spent his final college season in 2024 at UFC, where he had 22 receptions for 327 yards and 2 touchdowns.
There has been quite a bit of confusion around Jones’ pro football career because he shares a name with former NFL All-Pro, Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who his best known for scoring 2 touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers.
In that game, Jones scored on a 56-yard touchdown pass in the first half then returned the opening kickoff of the second half 108 yards for a touchdown — still the record for the longest play in Super Bowl and NFL playoff history.
Jones, who gained further fame by being a finalist on Seasons 16 of Dancing With the Stars, died in his sleep in July 2014. He was 40 years old.
Commmanders Wide Receivers Fell Flat in 2025
With just 6 games left in the 2025 regular season and the Commanders sitting at 3-8 overall, we can safely point to the wide receivers as one of the position groups who were an absolute miss this season.
That all starts with NFL All-Pro Terry McLaurin, who spent the offseason and preseason in extended, messy contract negotiations with the Commanders before ultimately signing a 3-year, $97 million extension on August 25.
The time away from the Commanders proved to be costly for McLaurin, who led the team with 82 receptions for 1,096 yards and a franchise record 13 touchdowns in 2024 and was one of the stars as the franchise advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991.
McLaurin has missed a career high 7 games this season with a quad injury and hasn’t played since a loss to the Kansas CIty Chiefs in Week 8.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith placed the Commanders’ struggles squarely on the shoulders of of the front office.
“The Commanders have messed this season up,” Smith said on October 21. ” … They really messed it up. The Washington Commanders messed up because they took for granted what happened last year. They thought they could play games. I’m blaming their front office for anything that’s happened this season. Take into account the quad (injury) as being in football shape and being in proper condition (for McLaurin). They let business get in the way of the business of winning games and now it’s messing with them on the football field.”