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Tony Jones Jr. around the edge… TOUCHDOWN! #NOvsBAL pic.twitter.com/q2iTrucGEy
— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2021
Well it didn’t take long for Tony Jones Jr. to establish himself. The second-year running back hit the field and immediately strung together runs of 28, 17, and 18 yards, finally crashing into the end zone on his third carry of the game. That got New Orleans on the board, and veteran kicker Brett Maher nailed the extra point to give the Saints a 7-3 edge over the Baltimore Ravens.
If nothing else, his fast start adds an interesting wrinkle to the ongoing competition at running back. Alvin Kamara’s spot is safe, but there’s reason for concern after Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman each coughed up a fumble against Baltimore while gaining a combined 8 rushing yards on 8 carries. If Jones can chip in on special teams, he might climb the depth chart quickly after spending his rookie year on the practice squad. For now, I’m just happy to see some preseason highlights.
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