FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL: 1. Jones returns: As a rookie in 2022, Marcus Jones was named The Associated Press first-team All-Pro punt returner after showing he was one of the NFL's most dynamic players with a football in his grasp.
He had 29 punt returns for 362 yards (12.5 avg.), which included an 84-yard touchdown, and returned 27 kickoffs for 645 yards (with a long of 46 yards).
Now, as Jones hopes to recapture that form after sustaining a season-ending torn labrum in the second week of the 2023 season, he returns to a significantly changed NFL landscape for returners. While punt returns are the same, new rules for kickoffs approved this offseason have dramatically altered the play, sparking intrigue across the league on how it will impact games. Editor's Picks ESPN's top 100 professional athletes of the 21st century: Unveiling 1-25 3d ESPN Gambling charges dropped against Pats' Boutte 5d Mike Reiss Patriots' rookies report to training camp this week: Why TE Jaheim Bell is one to watch 7d Mike Reiss Jones' first impression of the changes through spring practices? "Honestly, it's not too crazy for me because I'm a punt returner, too.
It's basically like another punt return for me," he said in an interview with ESPN. "It's just people on the same level, all at the same yard line, so that's a little different. But other than that, I can see how it would be a little different for people who don't do punt returns.
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