New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones got out of surgery this offseason and had a clear message for fans.
Jones wrote in his Instagram story, “I had surgery and I'm ready to come back for the season like clockwork!” Jones also shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed. NESN’s Dakota Randall reported that Jones’ reason for surgery wasn’t disclosed..
“The reason for the surgery was not revealed, but he had an ankle injury early in the season and a knee injury in the final weeks,” Randall wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Jones missed three games last season and had 48 tackles and seven pass deflections. His full season play was in 2020, with just one missed game in 2022 and 11 missed games in 2021.
Jones, who was not drafted in 2016, won two Super Bowls with the Patriots in his first three seasons with the team. He has a career of 378 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, 51 pass deflections, and 11 interceptions.
Jones is in the final year of his two-year contract this season.
Jonathan Jones’ Endorsement for Kyle Dugger is Successful $19 million Before the Patriots gave safety
a transition tag on March 5, Jones made his case for Dugger to stay with the team.
In February on the “Next Pats Podcast”, Jones said, “Dugg has been a focal point for us on defense, especially since Devin [McCourty] left. He’s played a vital role on the defense, and players like him are rare.” Kyle Dugger Dugger had 109 tackles, two interceptions, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and seven pass deflections last season. A second round pick in 2020 out of Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, Dugger has 343 tackles, nine interceptions, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and recoveries in his four-year career.
“Kyle is a talented player with a strong work ethic who has improved every year and been extremely productive since joining our team in 2020,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo told reporters on March 5 via Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi. “We value players with high character and chose to use the transition designation to give both sides more time to try to reach a long-term agreement, which is our goal with Kyle.”
Kyle Dugger Unhappy With Transition Tag: Report
Dugger staying with the Patriots might satisfy Jones, but the transition tag doesn’t satisfy Dugger.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss , it wasn’t what Dugger wanted. Dugger desired a long-term contract, which could still happen by July — the deadline when the two sides have to agree or stick with the tag.The Patriots will pay Dugger
$13.8 million
for 2024 on the transition tag. It differentiates from the better-known franchise tag, which locks in a player with his team for the years.
Transition tags only allow a team such as the Patriots to match an offer from another team in free agency. The franchise tag would have cost the Patriots $17 million in 2024.Dugger used to have a rookie contract with the team that was worth $8.3 million and lasted for four years.
Jonathan Jones, the cornerback for the New England Patriots, had surgery during the offseason and had a clear message for fans on Wednesday. $13.8 million for 2024 on the transition tag. It differentiates from the better-known franchise tag, which locks in a player with his team for the years.
Transition tags only allow a team such as the Patriots to match an offer from another team in free agency. The franchise tag would have cost the Patriots $17 million in 2024.
Dugger previously had a four-year, $8.3 million rookie deal with the team.
