JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Jaguars have made the following roster moves, the team announced today:
- Signed OL Blake Hance from the practice squad to the 53-man roster
- Signed WR Velus Jones Jr. to the practice squad
- Released RB Jake Funk from the practice squad
Hance has appeared in 50 games (nine starts) in his six-year NFL career, including 26 games over two seasons with Jacksonville (2022-23). In 2023, he appeared in all 17 games for the Jaguars and made one start against Baltimore in Week 15. Hance has also spent time with Washington (2019), the New York Jets (2020), Cleveland (2021) and San Francisco (2022). He has been a member of Jacksonville's practice squad since signing on August 29.
The Jacksonville, Ill., native played collegiately at Northwestern where he made 47 starts from 2014-18.
Jones Jr. was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round (71st overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He played in 27 games (two starts) in three seasons (2022-24) with the Bears and accumulated 12 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown, along with 19 rushes for 165 yards and one touchdown. Jones Jr. has also returned 22 kickoffs for 607 yards and five punts for 35 yards. He appeared in one game for Chicago this season before his release on October 26.
The Saraland, Ala., native played three seasons at the University of Southern California (2017-19) before transferring to the University of Tennessee (2020-21). He totaled 120 catches for 1,434 yards and 11 touchdowns in his college career, including 84 receptions for 1,087 yards and 10 scores at Tennessee. As a senior in 2021, Jones Jr. was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year after returning 24 kickoffs for 628 yards and one touchdown and 18 punts for 272 yards. He finished his collegiate career as the FBS' active career leader in kickoff return yards with 2,973 and averaged 24.4 yards per kick return.
Jones Jr. was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round (71st overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He played in 27 games (two starts) in three seasons (2022-24) with the Bears and accumulated 12 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown, along with 19 rushes for 165 yards and one touchdown. Jones Jr. has also returned 22 kickoffs for 607 yards and five punts for 35 yards. He appeared in one game for Chicago this season before his release on October 26.
The Saraland, Ala., native played three seasons at the University of Southern California (2017-19) before transferring to the University of Tennessee (2020-21). He totaled 120 catches for 1,434 yards and 11 touchdowns in his college career, including 84 receptions for 1,087 yards and 10 scores at Tennessee. As a senior in 2021, Jones Jr. was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year after returning 24 kickoffs for 628 yards and one touchdown and 18 punts for 272 yards. He finished his collegiate career as the FBS' active career leader in kickoff return yards with 2,973 and averaged 24.4 yards per kick return.
