The Seattle Seahawks elevated 29-year-old running back Velus Jones Jr. from the practice squad Saturday, adding familiar special-teams and backfield insurance before Sunday’s Week 3 road game against the Washington Commanders, via the NFL transaction wire.
Jones was one of two Saturday promotions. Seattle also elevated safety Maxen Hook after ruling out starting safeties Julian Love (calf) and Ty Okada (hamstring).
Jones’ job is narrower: depth behind Jadarian Price, Emanuel Wilson and George Holani, plus another body on kick coverage and returns.
This is not a new look. Jones was already elevated for Seattle’s Week 1 win over the New England Patriots and played 17 special-teams snaps without an offensive touch.
The Seahawks kept him on the practice squad after camp as one of their veteran extras, then brought him back again for the trip to Northwest Stadium.
Jones, born May 11, 1997, is listed at 6-foot-0 and 204 pounds. Chicago drafted him in the third round in 2022 out of Tennessee as a wide receiver with elite speed.
He later converted more fully to running back and kick-return work and has bounced through several locker rooms, including Jacksonville, Carolina, New Orleans and Seattle.
With the Seahawks last season he was a frequent practice-squad elevation, contributing mostly on special teams and a handful of garbage-time carries. That profile still fits.
Seattle does not need him to replace Price, who practiced fully after a chest/shoulder scare last week. It needs a player who already knows the calls if a snap count balloons or a returner is needed.
The game itself is a contrast. Seattle is 2-0 and getting quarterback Sam Darnold back after a glute/hip injury that knocked him out after five snaps in Week 1. Washington is 0-2 and without Jayden Daniels (elbow), plus several other starters.
A Seahawks win would keep an early NFC West lead intact on the road. Jones is unlikely to decide that. He is the type of elevation teams make when they want no surprises on fourth down and kickoff.
If he plays, look for him on the coverage units first. If someone ahead of him in the backfield is limited, he is the next name on the card.
Practice-squad elevations are temporary by design. After the game, Jones is expected to revert unless Seattle signs him to the 53-man roster.
For one Sunday in Landover, the 29-year-old is active again — a veteran insurance policy for a team trying to stay unbeaten.
