By the end of his rookie season as an undrafted free agent out of Youngstown State, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Donald Jones was an integral part of the team's offensive attack. Jones saw his playing time increase dramatically in Week 10, when he began filling in as a slot receiver for the injured Roscoe Parrish. Jones finished the season with 18 catches for 213 yards and a touchdown.
Parrish, however, is healthy once again - as is Lee Evans, whose injury also helped Jones' playing time increase. Right now, at best, Jones projects as the team's fifth receiver - and he'll have competition for that spot from the likes of Marcus Easley, Naaman Roosevelt and others. Still, if I were a betting man, I'd bet on Jones being a lock for the final roster heading into the 2011 season.
Why? It has more to do than with the fact that he's already proven himself a capable reserve: Jones is also one of the team's very best special teams players. He plays a very physical brand of football, and brings that temperament with him when covering kicks and punts. Jones is one of a prominent core of specialists that this team employs, and it's a strong bet that Chan Gailey and Bruce DeHaven keep him around specifically for that reason. Jones is exactly what you want in a reserve player: a good specialist that can produce when called upon.