 Jones with the Green Bay Packers in 2013 | |||||||||||||
| No. 95, 56, 96 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive tackle | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | (1990-07-24)July 24, 1990 (age 35) Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 285 lb (129 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Compton (Compton, California) | ||||||||||||
| College | UCLA (2008–2012) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2013: 1st round, 26th overall pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Datone Wayne Jones (born July 24, 1990) is an American former professionalfootball player who was adefensive tackle in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theUCLA Bruins from 2008 to 2012 as a defensive end and defensive tackle. In 2008, he was named to theRivals.com All-Pac-10 freshman team. In 2009, he earned sophomore All-America honorable mention honors fromCollege Football News after finishing the season with 4 sacks and 11 tackles. He missed the entire 2010 season after suffering an injury to his right foot during fall camp. In 2012, he was named second-teamAll-Pac-12.
Jones was selected by theGreen Bay Packers in the first round of the2013 NFL draft. In his first season, he was one of four rookies to appear in all 16 games. At the end of the 2014 season, he became the first defensive player in Packers history to register a blocked field goal and a fumble recovery in a playoff game. He was converted tooutside linebacker during the 2015 season, and continued to play the position in the 2016 season. In 2017, Jones left the Packers to play with theMinnesota Vikings, but was released on September 8, 2017, after being on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He was also later a member of theDetroit Lions,San Francisco 49ers,Dallas Cowboys,Jacksonville Jaguars,Las Vegas Raiders andMontreal Alouettes.
Jones was born inLos Angeles, California. He attendedCompton High School inCompton, California, where he played as a defensive end for the Compton Tarbabes football team.[1] During his junior year in 2006, he had 60 tackles and 4 sacks.[1] As a senior, he had 91 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 9 hurries, and 3 pass deflections. He was named second-team all-state by Cal-Hi sports.[2] Furthermore, he was namedMoore League co-defensive player of the year.[1]
Jones played basketball in middle school and high school as apoint guard. During his freshman year in 2004, he dreamed of being a basketball standout.[3] On the weekends, he played with the likes ofJames Harden andDeMar DeRozan.[4] He quit basketball his junior year to focus on football, but he lettered all four years intrack and field.
During the spring, Jones ran the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter sprints at Compton. His best time in the200 meters was 22.47 seconds as a sophomore.[5] As a junior, at 240 pounds, he ran a personal-best time of 56.69 seconds in the400 metres at a track meet in Long Beach.[6] During his senior year, he participated in the men's shot put, the 100-meter, and the 200-meter.[7]
Jones was highly recruited coming out of high school and was given a four-star prospect ranking by bothRivals.com andScout.com.[8][9] He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds.[8] Scouts said that he had good explosion, pass rushing skills, and quickness off the ball, but also expressed concern about his techniques and moves.[9] "I go low, fast and hard. That's my strength," Jones said. "Every coach I talk with says how much they love how I fly around sideline-to-sideline and hit. I think quarterbacks are afraid of me and I'm really hard to block because I have such a fast get off". He had an overall GPA of 3.0 and an 810 on theSAT.[9] He received scholarship offers fromUCLA,Arizona State,Colorado,Notre Dame,Oregon,Arizona,Nebraska, andUSC. Jones ultimately decided to attend UCLA.[10]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Datone Jones DE | Compton, California | Compton High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 240–275 lb (109–125 kg) | 4.8 | Mar 10, 2007 |
Recruit ratings:Scout:  Rivals: 247Sports: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 10 (DE) Rivals: 8 (DE), 16 (California), 125 National | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
In UCLA, Jones played defensive end and defensive tackle for theUCLA Bruins football team from 2008 to 2012. He finished his tenure with 43 starts (including his final 28 straight games), 148 tackles (90 solo), 36.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 5 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.
Jones participated in 10 games with 2 starts in his freshman season with the team. He started his first game againstCalifornia, where he had a season-high 6 tackles (4 solo).[1] He finished the year with 15 tackles and was named to theRivals.com All-Pac-10 Freshman team.[11] In his sophomore season, he started in all 13 games. During the season opener againstSan Diego State, he defensed 2 passes, a career high.[1] On October 3, againstStanford, he had 3 tackles and sacked future NFL quarterbackAndrew Luck, forcing a fumble, which he also recovered.[12] He finished the season with 4 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss, which earned him Sophomore All-America honorable mention honors fromCollege Football News.[13]
In 2010, Jones missed the entire season due to a fractured right foot he suffered in fall camp.[1] Returning from the injury the next season, he again started every game for the team and was named to the watch list for theTed Hendricks Award, given annually to the best defensive linemen in college football.[14] During a game againstCalifornia, he had a career-best 2 sacks. He led the Bruins with 41 tackles, while also topping the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.[1]
Jones continued to be the starter during his final year with the team and was named to theChuck Bednarik Award watch list; the award is given annually to the best defensive player in college football.[15] In the first game againstRice, he had 6 tackles and 2 sacks, matching his career-high. During a game against theNebraska Cornhuskers, he had a career-best 3 tackles for loss and was given credit for forcing asafety. He matched his career-high with 3 tackles for a loss and caught a 7-yard touchdown pass in the third game againstHouston. When the Bruins facedCalifornia, he had 5 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack, and blocked an extra point. At the end of the year, he was selected to be second-team All-Conference by the Pac-12 coaches.[16] He was also selected to play in the2013 All-Star Senior Bowl.[17]
| Regular season statistics | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | GS | Comb | Total | Ast | Sck | Tfl | PDef | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | FF | FR | FR YDS |
| 2008 | UCLA | 10 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | UCLA | 13 | 13 | 30 | 12 | 18 | 4.0 | 11.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | UCLA | 14 | 14 | 41 | 23 | 18 | 3.0 | 6.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | UCLA | 14 | 14 | 62 | 45 | 17 | 5.5 | 19.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 51 | 43 | 148 | 90 | 58 | 12.5 | 36.5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| Source:sports-reference.com | |||||||||||||||||
Jones was projected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick in theNFL draft.[18] Scouts observed that he was a sturdy athlete with a good initial explosion off the ball and good use of his hands.[18][19] However, he was also said to lack the constant speed or flexibility to be a4-3 defensive end.[18][19]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Jones's NFL Combine workout | |
| Jones gets drafted by Green Bay |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+7⁄8 in (1.93 m) | 283 lb (128 kg) | 32+3⁄4 in (0.83 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 4.80 s | 1.66 s | 2.76 s | 4.32 s | 7.32 s | 31.5 in (0.80 m) | 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) | 29 reps | 20[20] |
| All values are fromNFL Combine[21][22] | ||||||||||||
Jones was selected in the first round (26th overall) by theGreen Bay Packers in the2013 NFL draft.[23] He became the first UCLA defensive lineman taken in the first round since 1979 whenManu Tuiasosopo was selected 18th overall by theSeattle Seahawks. Additionally, he was the first UCLA player selected in the first round sinceJacksonville Jaguars tight endMarcedes Lewis in 2006.[24] After being drafted, Jones stated that he was motivated byReggie White. He said that he watched numerous films about White.[25]
Jones overcame an ankle injury suffered during the preseason and was healthy in time for the regular-season opening game; he did not miss any action during the year.[26] He was one of four rookies to appear in all 16 games, rotated at defensive end, and was one of the interior rushers in the team's defensive formations. He finished the season with 10 tackles (7 solo), 3.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery, while also blocking anextra-point attempt.[27]
In 2014, Jones played in 13 games, starting 3 of those games. He finished the regular season with 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception returned for 18 yards, 2 passes defensed, and a fumble recovery.[28] In week 16 against theTampa Bay Buccaneers, he had his first interception.[29] During apostseason divisional round contest against theDallas Cowboys, he became the first Packer to register a blocked field goal and a fumble recovery in a playoff game, helping the Packers advance tothe conference championship game.[30]
On July 2, 2015, the NFL announced that they would suspend Jones for one game for violating the league's substance abuse policy.[31] According to a police report acquired by theGreen Bay Press-Gazette, he was cited for marijuana a day after the Packers 28–22 overtime playoff loss against the Seahawks.[32] He apologized for the suspension but did not appeal it, stating that there was "no reason to".[33]
Jones played in 15 games during the regular season and appeared in both postseason contests. He posted 20 tackles (14 solo), 3 sacks, 3 passes defensed, and one kickoff return for 9 yards. He had 13 quarterback hits (good for second on the team), 12 quarterback pressures, and 3 passes defensed, which was the most among Packers defensive linemen. On October 11, 2015, he had three quarterback hits and a blocked field goal during the team's 24–10 victory against theSt. Louis Rams, earning him theMilwaukee Journal Sentinel player of the week honor.[34] On November 19, 2015, defensive coordinatorDom Capers announced that Jones would be converted to the outside linebacker position.[35]
On March 22, 2016, head coachMike McCarthy announced that Jones would continue playing outside linebacker and would line up as anedge rusher.[36] On May 3, 2016, the Packers declined the fifth-year option, making him a free agent after the season unless he signed a new contract with the Packers.[37] On November 4, 2016, he was fined $36,434 for roughing the passer in Week 8 against theAtlanta Falcons.[38] On December 23, 2016, he was fined $9,115, this time for a facemask penalty.[39] He played in 15 games in the regular season and appeared in all 3 postseason contests. He posted 31.5 pressures, 22 tackles (17 solo), 1 sack, and 2 passes defensed.[40][41]
Jones recorded nine sacks in 59 games throughout his Packers career. Although he was functional as a rotational player, he was unable to develop into an effective pass rusher and live up to the expectations of a first-round draft pick.[42][43] His performance in 2016— only one sack in 548 snaps—led to the Packers letting him become a free agent.[44]
Jones was signed by theMinnesota Vikings to a one-year contract on March 14, 2017.[45] He stated that the Packers were not interested in re-signing him, and that the Vikings suit him better.[46] He was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury on September 2, 2017,[47] but was released with an injury settlement six days later.[48]
Jones signed with theDetroit Lions on October 11, 2017, after the Lions' defensive linemanHaloti Ngata suffered an elbow injury during a 24–27 loss against theCarolina Panthers.[49] However, he was released a week later on October 18, 2017.[50]
Jones signed a one-year deal with theSan Francisco 49ers on October 24, 2017, to bolster the team's defensive line, which was plagued by injuries.[51] He appeared in three games and made six tackles as a defensive end. However, he was waived on November 21 to make room forTank Carradine.[52]
Jones was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to a two-year contract on November 26, 2017.[53] He appeared in four games as a backupdefensive tackle, registering six tackles and one sack. In 2018, he missed the first two games of the regular season with a knee injury he suffered in the second preseason game against theCincinnati Bengals. He only played in the third game against the Seattle Seahawks, where he took part in five special teams' snaps before suffering a hamstring injury. On September 25, 2018, he was placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season.[54]
On June 4, 2019, Jones signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[55] In the third preseason game, he registered six tackles during the team's 22–7 loss against theMiami Dolphins.[56] He appeared in all four preseason games and registered 10 tackles, but was released on August 30, 2019, as part of the final roster cuts.[57]
Jones signed with theLas Vegas Raiders on August 14, 2020.[58] He was released on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[59][60] He was elevated to the active roster on October 10 for the team's week 5 game against theKansas City Chiefs, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[61] He was released on November 23.[62]
Jones signed with theMontreal Alouettes of theCanadian Football League (CFL) on January 21, 2021, and spent over two weeks in training camp.[63] However, he was released by the team on July 27, 2021.[64]
| Year | Team | G | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Solo | Ast | Sck | SFTY | PDef | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | FF | FR | ||||
| 2013 | GB | 16 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2014 | GB | 13 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 1.5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 18.0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | GB | 15 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | GB | 15 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 1.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | DET | 0 | DNP | |||||||||||||
| SF | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DAL | 4 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | DAL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 67 | 88 | 63 | 25 | 10.0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 18 | 18.0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Source:NFL.com | ||||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | G | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Solo | Ast | Sck | SFTY | PDef | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | FF | FR | |||
| 2013 | GB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | GB | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | GB | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | GB | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Source:pro-football-reference.com | |||||||||||||||
Jones was raised by his single mother in Compton, California, alongside his brother and four sisters.[65] In 2015, Jones's wife gave birth to their first child.[66] On May 14, 2017, Jones tweeted that he bought his mother a new house onMother's Day.[67] On February 26, 2019, Jones wasbaptized in a crowd that includes his wife and fellow NFL players.[68]
