The Bears were in dire need of a spark during the second quarter of Week 8’s Sunday night matchup against the Chargers. Chicago trailed 17–0 when the offense drew up a deep pass for wide receiver Velus Jones.
Jones, who beat his coverage by a country mile, somehow slipped while turning to track the ball, causing him to fall over and drop what would’ve been an otherwise uncontested touchdown pass.
Tyson Bagent’s pass was right on the money, so much so that it still hit Jones square in the chest when he landed on his back. Unfortunately, the former third-round pick couldn’t grasp hold of it and it landed as a disappointing incompletion.
Chicago ended up scoring on the same drive, though they could’ve been on the scoreboard plenty earlier had Jones stayed upright.
Oh wow! the #Bears had a wide open touchdown but Velus Jones fall down and dropped it...pic.twitter.com/MW3lucg6xohttps://t.co/TGBq25zPDv
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 30, 2023
Fans were in disbelief after Jones’s slip-up on Sunday night in prime time, as the 26-year-old failed to secure what looked to be a surefire touchdown. They took to social media with plenty to say about the drop in the end zone.
Staying on your feet is kind of necessary.#Bears https://t.co/1sYTd6igZD
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) October 30, 2023
Velus Jones sheesh! pic.twitter.com/sDQdUH3Jsw
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) October 30, 2023
Are you serious Velus Jones Jr???
— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) October 30, 2023
Between Velus Jones Jr. & the refs, it seems like the world does not want to see the #Bears in the end zone tonight.
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) October 30, 2023
Velus Jones Jr. slips in the end zone on a great ball from Bagent yet it still manages to hit him right in the cradle. Jones can't hang on and it's incomplete.
— Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV) October 30, 2023
Velus Jones Jr… wide open in the end zone & he falls down. Cannot make it up. #Bears
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) October 30, 2023