PATRIOTS: Cyrus Jones now dwelling on the past

Cornerback Cyrus Jones is looking forward to his third year with the team.

FOXBORO – The knee injury he suffered last August left him with time on his hands.

Out for the season, Patriots cornerback-return man Cyrus Jones says he had no other choice but to become a better student of the game.

“Not being able to play the game physically, you’ve only got one choice and that’s to watch from the outside on in and try to become better as a student of the game,” Jones said following Monday’s training camp practice on the fields behind Gillette Stadium. “I definitely tried to do my best and take advantage of that.”

The Patriots’ top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft (second round; 60th overall), Jones’ rookie year was a disaster, his frequent fumbles in the return game (19 returns, five fumbles) leading to his inactivity for six regular-season games and all three of their postseason contests. When it was over, his stat line consisted of seven tackles in 10 games (one start) on defense, 11 punt returns for 46 yards (a 4.2-yard average), eight kickoff returns for 180 yards (a 22.5-yard average) and the five fumbles.

He never made it to the regular season last year.

Jones’ right knee buckled in pass coverage, the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in the second quarter of the Patriots’ 40-38 preseason-ending loss to the New York Giants in Foxboro on Aug. 31 leading to his placement on the injured reserve list two days later.

“It was very frustrating,” said Jones. “I don’t know the exact time period when I was … I can’t dwell on it. But very quickly I tried to just move on and just rely on my faith and understand that everything happens for a reason, and just try to take positives from it.”

After opening camp on the physically unable to perform list, his workload limited to the lower (rehab) field on the stadium grounds, Jones graduated to the upper fields to practice with the team last Tuesday but did not play in last Thursday night’s 26-17 preseason-opening victory over Washington at Gillette.

While he’s continued to practice with the team, getting work both in the secondary and the return game, memories of the knee injury linger.

“I just got out here four (practices) ago, so yeah, I’m still thinking about it,” Jones admitted. “That will come with time. I just want to go out there and not focus on it, which I wouldn’t say is impossible, but it’s definitely a tough thing to do when you haven’t been out there for so long, and you’re not really getting your feet wet pretty much.”

Jones certainly didn’t lack for playing time as a senior at Alabama.

Appearing in 15 games, the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder was credited with 37 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in earning All-Southeastern Conference honors as a defensive back and returned 42 punts for 530 yards and four touchdowns, tops in the nation and an all-time school record.

Jones played in 51 games over his career with the Crimson Tide, registering 108 tackles, one sack, seven interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries and returning 46 punts for 618 yards and the four TDs.

Now, one of 11 cornerbacks in camp, Jones strives to find a role for himself with the Patriots, one that his ability to return punts – wide receiver Danny Amendola, who handled the bulk of those duties dating back to 2015 moved on to Miami as an unrestricted free agent during the offseason – could help him attain.

In that regard, Jones says he is only looking ahead, not back.

“I put the work in, try to get better out here and be the best that I can, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get out there and have the opportunity to showcase the work that I put in,” said Jones. “I ain’t really worried about negative stuff right now, frustration or whatever. It’s in the past.”