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Washington Redskins: Why Matt Jones was far more than a failed draft choice

By Desmond Lee

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 16: Running back Matt Jones #31 of the Washington Redskins scores a second quarter touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on October 16, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 16: Running back Matt Jones #31 of the Washington Redskins scores a second quarter touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on October 16, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 10: Linebacker Matt Judon #99 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles running back Matt Jones #31 of the Washington Redskins during a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 10, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 10: Linebacker Matt Judon #99 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles running back Matt Jones #31 of the Washington Redskins during a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 10, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

More of the same in Jones’ second year

Despite these poor early returns, McCloughan was undaunted: don’t worry, he advised, Jones was due for a breakout season in 2016.

McCloughan, however, couldn’t have been more wrong.

Jones only managed to play in the first seven games of that season, missing the rest of it on the inactive list as a healthy scratch. The same shortcomings in his running style continued to plague him. And his refusal to make himself useful by playing special teams irked a coaching staff who had already lost faith in his abilities as a runner.

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More importantly, Jones couldn’t cure his fumbling problems. Over the course of his seven games, he managed to fumble three times. The last one came against the Detroit Lions on a first-and-goal run at the Lions’ seven-yard line, which the Lions recovered in the end zone for a touchback. The fumble was costly as it squandered a key early scoring opportunity — and ultimately the game — during a critical stretch in the team’s 2016 playoff run.

Jones would never play another regular season contest for the Redskins after that.

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