Cyrus Jones says he’s trying to prove to Patriots coaches he deserves to play with starting defense
Jones has gotten first-team reps during much of training camp and preseason.
In the early days of camp, Cyrus Jones muffed a few punts, and was beat in coverage regularly in 1-on-1’s and team drills. But on the final day of open practice at training camp in Foxborough on Wednesday, Jones was practicing with the starting defense at cornerback.
“It feels good, but at the same time, I still have a lot more work to do,” Jones said Wednesday after practice. “I gotta come out here and improve every day, and just show the coaches I deserve to be out there with those guys, and just try to do my job every time I step out there. Just know my responsibilities, and just make plays when they present themselves.”
The 2016 second-round pick out of Alabama was considered a likely starter as punt returner and starting slot cornerback. Despite his early setbacks and growing pains, Jones started at cornerback, and returned punts in the Patriots’ 34-22 win over the Saints in preseason Week 1. He has continued those duties into joint-practices with the Bears this week. Perhaps because starting cornerback Logan Ryan is wearing a red non-contact jersey, Jones has been playing at No. 2 cornerback.
“He’s a great competitor. He’s a rookie that’s willing to learn,” Ryan said of Jones early in training camp.
As Jones said, he’s not done proving himself. He explained how he’ll continue to get better.
“Just trying to pay attention to the details in everything that I do,” Jones said Wedenday. “And just trying to be consistent. I think that’s the biggest thing, not come out here and make repeated errors. If I make a mistake, learn from it. … Just showing the coaches that I’m reliable and I can do my job.”
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