T. J. Jones

T. J. Jones
No. 13 – Detroit Lions
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1992-07-19) July 19, 1992
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school: Gainesville
(Gainesville, Georgia)
College: Notre Dame
NFL Draft: 2014 / Round: 6 / Pick: 189
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 3, 2018
Receptions: 47
Receiving yards: 634
Receiving touchdowns: 2
Total return yards: 317
Player stats at NFL.com

Tai-ler "T. J." Fitzgerald Jones (born July 19, 1992) is a Canadian-born American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Lions in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.

High school career

Jones attended Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia. He was named MaxPreps.com second-team All-American as senior in 2009. He finished his senior season with 76 receptions for 1,399 yards and 18 touchdowns, which earned him all-state honors, while helping Gainesville get to the Georgia state championship game for the first time since 1982. He caught 81 passes for 979 yards as junior in 2008.

Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was rated as the 19th best wide receiver in the nation.[1] After originally being committed to Stanford, he switched his commitment to Notre Dame.

College career

Jones enrolled early at Notre Dame in January 2010. As a true freshman, he worked his way onto the field, playing in 12 games, starting 7, while catching 23 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns. Jones became a full-time starter for the Irish in 2011. He played in all 13 games, starting every game but one, and recorded 38 receptions for 366 yards and three touchdowns. In 2012, Jones had his best season yet for the Fighting Irish, accumulating 50 receptions for 649 yards and 4 touchdowns. His year was highlighted by a game winning catch against Stanford in overtime and a berth to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game in Miami, Florida. In the National Championship game, Jones recorded 6 receptions for 90 yards in a 42-14 loss versus Alabama. In his senior season, he set career highs in receptions (70), receiving yards (1,108), and receiving touchdowns (9). He also rushed for 67 yards on nine carries (7.4 avg), scoring two touchdowns.

Professional career

2014 NFL Draft

He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round (189th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.[2]

Detroit Lions

On August 23, 2014, Jones was placed on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list with a shoulder injury.[3]

On September 3, 2016, Jones was waived by the Lions and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[4][5] He was promoted to the active roster on December 3, 2016.[6]

In 2017, Jones played in 14 games with six starts, recording a career-high 30 catches for 399 yards and one touchdown. He suffered a shoulder injury in Week 15 and was placed on injured reserve on December 19, 2017.[7]

On April 9, 2018, the Lions re-signed Jones to a one-year contract.[8]

Personal life

Jones was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His father, Andre Jones, was a starting defensive end on the 1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.[9] Jones is part Korean.[10]

Jones' godfather is Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, a former NFL and CFL wide receiver and former Notre Dame star. His younger brother, Malachi Jones, a former Appalachian State football player, also played for the Atlanta Falcons and most recently, the Chicago Bears. He was named the 2018 Rookie & Receiver of the Year of the Arena Football League (AFL) as a member of the Albany Empire. His other younger brother, Jahmai Jones was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as the 70th overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2015 MLB Draft.[11]

On December 5, 2015, Jones and his fiancée and former MTV The Challenge star Theresa González welcomed their daughter, Easton Kaia.[12]

References

  1. ↑ T. J. Jones - Yahoo Sports
  2. ↑ Lions pick TJ Jones
  3. ↑ Tim Twentyman on Twitter: The #Lions have also placed TJ Jones on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform.
  4. ↑ "Lions establish 53-man roster". DetroitLions.com. September 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Lions sign 8 players to team's practice squad". DetroitLions.com. September 4, 2016. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Lions sign WR TJ Jones to active roster and activate DE Armonty Bryant". DetroitLions.com. December 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Lions sign WR Andy Jones to active roster, place WR TJ Jones on IR". DetroitLions.com. December 19, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Lions re-sign restricted free agent WR TJ Jones". Detroit Lions. April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ Jones following in father's footsteps
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ Angels select Georgia HS OF Jahmai Jones with 2nd-round pick in draft
  12. ↑ Ossad, Jordana (December 7, 2015). "'CHALLENGE' VET THERESA GONZALEZ WELCOMES HER VERY OWN MINI-ME". Retrieved December 7, 2015.
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