PITTSBURGH -- Jacoby Jones left the Pittsburgh Steelers no choice.
He has been demoted to being the backup kickoff and punt returner after having two fumbles Sunday, including one on the opening kickoff that gave the Colts the ball in the red zone. The Steelers recovered his punt return fumble early in the second half of Sunday's 45-10 win.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown is now the No. 1 punt returner, with slot receiver Markus Wheaton sliding into the kick return spot. Both have experience in this spot, with Brown breaking off a 71-yard punt return score late in the fourth quarter Sunday, and Wheaton returning 20 kicks for 494 yards last season.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday the fumbles sparked the demotion.
Jones' days in Pittsburgh appear numbered. The Steelers signed Jones on Nov. 6, and the investment has yielded minimal returns -- six punt returns for 19 yards and nine kickoff returns for 220.
The Steelers could keep him on the roster as insurance. No need risking injury to Brown or Wheaton by giving them extra work. And Jones is a veteran Super Bowl winner who knows what it takes to recover. But this midseason pickup has backfired, especially with the Steelers giving up former third-round pick Dri Archer to make the move.
