Cyrus Jones ready for second chance with Patriots

FOXBORO — The Patriots released cornerback Cyrus Jones on Sept. 1 after a pair of disappointing seasons in which he fumbled five times on 19 kickoff and punt returns as a rookie and tore an anterior cruciate ligament as a sophomore.

The hometown Baltimore Ravens signed Jones to their practice squad two days later. That’s where Jones remained until this week when the Patriots called Monday to inquire about adding him to their 53-man roster.

The deal was [...]

FOXBORO — The Patriots released cornerback Cyrus Jones on Sept. 1 after a pair of disappointing seasons in which he fumbled five times on 19 kickoff and punt returns as a rookie and tore an anterior cruciate ligament as a sophomore.

The hometown Baltimore Ravens signed Jones to their practice squad two days later. That’s where Jones remained until this week when the Patriots called Monday to inquire about adding him to their 53-man roster.

The deal was finalized Tuesday and Jones practiced with the Patriots on Wednesday, surprised to be back in New England so soon.

“Would you expect to be back here this quick?” Jones said Thursday. “I mean, no. I just took it in stride and was moving on with my future. But I understand the NFL is a business and you just have to be ready when your number is called — your phone number, your jersey number, whatever. That’s part of the process. So when they called and expressed interest in me coming back I was all for it.”

Jones, who was drafted in the second round (60th overall) in 2016, stands a good chance of playing when the Patriots meet the Lions on Sunday night at Detroit.

That’s because Jones can return punts — as long as he doesn’t bobble the ball — and the Patriots essentially have no options for that duty. Riley McCarron is on injured reserve, Patrick Chung is unlikely to play due to a concussion and the trio of Rex Burkhead, Phillip Dorsett and Cordarrelle Patterson has returned a total of three punts in their careers.

And it could be the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Jones sees time at safety, a position the Patriots would be precariously thin at in Chung’s absence. Jones spent some time practicing there Thursday.

“I’m not really sure what the coaches want to do with that, but whatever they ask me to do I’ll do it to the best of my ability,” Jones said.

Jones could have opted to remain on the practice squad in Baltimore, but didn’t consider that to be an option even though his time in New England was taxing. And he made it clear he’s not back because of unfinished business.

“Unfinished business?” Jones said. “I mean. I’m just here to do a job just like everybody else, so I don’t know what you’re referencing by that. … I look at it as another opportunity just like it was when I was in Baltimore. So I’m just going to, like I did before I left here, work hard and try to be the best guy I can be on Sunday.”