Jones joins a Bengals legend with his opening kickoff return for a touchdown on Sunday.
Charlie Jones’s opening kickoff return for a touchdown not only set the tone for the Bengals in their 21-14 win over the Browns, but it also made some history.
Jones’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown is the Bengals’ longest play since Brandon Wilson ran back a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the New York Giants. That was in Week 12 of the 2020 season.
In addition, Jones also joins Bengals legend Lamar Parrish as the only two Bengals with at least one kickoff and punt return for a touchdown. Jones ran back a punt for a touchdown against the Ravens in Week 2 last season, his first career touchdown.
Elias Sports Bureau says that Parrish accomplished the feat over 50 years ago.
Jones tightroped the sideline on the final 10 yards on his kickoff return Sunday, but he managed to stay upright and hit the pylon with the ball.
“I knew if I came all that way, I had to score; I couldn’t just stop at the two,” Jones said. “I was tired. I just knew I didn’t want to get stopped with a couple of yards to go. I knew I had to do something to get in the end zone, and it worked out.”
The Bengals are now 3-4 and will host the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is at 1:00 on CBS.
