Former Saraland High School standout Velus Jones Jr. is so far down on the New Orleans Saints’ depth chart in his transition from wide receiver to running back, his line doesn’t even have a heading. But if it did, it would be fifth team.
But after running for 29 yards on four carries as the Saints tied the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-17 on Sunday in their second preseason game, he’s outperformed the players ahead of him in the pecking order, even though he had only one rushing attempt for a 1-yard loss in New Orleans’ preseason opener, a 27-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 10.
The Saints’ No. 1 running back, Alvin Kamara, has not played in the preseason.
For the other running backs ahead of Jones on the depth chart, Kendre Miller has 36 yards on 12 carries, Cam Akers has 11 yards on six carries and Clyde Edwards-Helaire has 18 yards on eight carries.
A third-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 2022, Jones has 20 rushing attempts for 165 yards and one touchdown and 12 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown in 29 NFL games, a set of stats that prompted his transition to running back.
Jones also has 40 kickoff returns for a 26.5-yard average in his NFL career. On Sunday, he returned two kickoffs for 40 yards.
The Saints tied the Jaguars when quarterback Spencer Rattler led a nine-play, 82-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass and a 2-point conversion run by Rattler with 21 seconds to play.
Seth Henigan completed a 23-yard pass to put Jacksonville on the New Orleans 42-yard line with nine seconds to play, within range of Jaguars kicker Cam Little, who made a 70-yard field goal last week. But on the next snap, Henigan was intercepted by safety Jonas Sanker.
In the other preseason game on Sunday, the Chicago Bears buried the Buffalo Bills 38-0. Buffalo kept 34 of its players on the sideline for the contest, which featured 369 passing yards by three Chicago quarterbacks and two touchdown runs by Bears running back Ian Wheeler.
Twelve players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during Sunday’s preseason games:
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby carries the football during an NFL preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby carries the football during an NFL preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Jacksonville Jaguars 17, New Orleans Saints 17
Tank Bigsby (Auburn) started at running back for the Jaguars. Bigsby gained 6 yards on two rushing attempts and had a 19-yard reception while playing the first offensive series for Jacksonville. He also returned the opening kickoff 35 yards.
Saints punter James Burnip (Alabama) averaged 43.5 yards on two punts. Burnip had a 49-yard punt that went out of bounds at the Jacksonville 19-yard line and a 38-yard punt that was downed at the Jacksonville 26.
Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) started at defensive end for the Jaguars. Hines-Allen did not record any stats.
Saints running back Velus Jones Jr. (Saraland) ran for 29 yards on four carries, caught a pass that netted a 2-yard loss and ran back two kickoffs for 40 yards.
Saints cornerback Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley, Alabama) did not play.
Jaguars linebacker Jalen McLeod (Auburn) did not play.
Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) completed 14-of-17 passes for 112 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Jacksonville scored 10 points on Mullens’ four possessions at the helm of the Jaguars’ offense.
Jaguars defensive back Caleb Ransaw (Sparkman, Troy) did not play.
Jaguars defensive back Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (Fultondale) made one tackle on special teams.
Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (Lee-Montgomery, Auburn) made five tackles.
Chicago Bears 38, Buffalo Bills 0
Bills offensive tackle Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) did not play.
Bills defensive tackle Marcus Harris (Park Crossing, Auburn) did not record any stats.
Tyrell Shavers (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Bills. Shavers had two receptions for 29 yards.
Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (Troy) made three tackles and registered two quarterback hits.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.
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