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Carl Jones Jr.’s Special Teams Work Earns Bigger Opportunity
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- Carl Jones Jr.’s Special Teams Work Earns Bigger Opportunity
The Baltimore Ravens have signed linebacker Carl Jones Jr. from the practice squad, according to Ravens writer Clifton Brown. The move comes after Teddye Buchanan was ruled out due to injury. Jones' NFL path has hardly been stable, but that comes with the territory for an undrafted player who has had to prove himself at every stop.
A Ride Full Of Twists And Turns
Dec 16, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Carl Jones Jr. (4) is congratulated after defeating the Boise State Broncos in the Starco Brands LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Before reaching the NFL, Jones was a standout at UCLA. He appeared in 57 games and recorded 135 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, eight sacks and an interception while contributing as an edge rusher, linebacker and special-teams player. That versatility also showed up in NFL.com's scouting report, which praised Jones' motor and his experience on coverage units.
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Jones himself takes pride in his special-teams role and understands that it can be his clearest path onto the field.
Jones already played 19 special teams snaps in week one, but he could have a bigger role due to his experience as a utility linebacker. Jesse Minter is known as a coach that plays a lot of zone, so having someone who can fill that role in emergencies will be useful moving forward.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
