Former OU quarterback Landry Jones had the opportunity he had been patiently waiting for, but his start in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ NFL Hall of Fame Game against Minnesota was far from impressive.
It was a classic case of Catch-22 for the all-time Big 12 leader in passing yards and total offense who is in his third season in the NFL, all with the Steelers.
While Jones got his first-ever start in an NFL game, exhibition or otherwise, he also was operating without practically all of the weapons that produced the league’s second best offense in 2014. Most of the playing time for both sides was reserved for players who the coaching staffs want to get an extended look at, most of whom will not be on the opening-day rosters when the new season begins the week of Sept. 7.
Aug 9, 2015; Canton, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones (3) throws the ball against the Minnesota Vikings in the 2015 Hall of Fame game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jones quarterbacked the entire game of the annual exhibition, played the night after the induction ceremony for the 2015 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Minnesota won the game by a score of 14-3.
The former fourth-round pick of the Steelers in 2013 completed 50 percent of his pass attempts, going 16 for 32 for 135 yards with two sacks.
Several of Jones’ passes were dropped and one completion was a one-handed leaning grab of a 35-yard throw by rookie wide receiver Shakim Phillips of a 35-yard second-quarter throw by Jones.
Overall, Jones’ performance wasn’t all that impressive on paper. and he did overthrow several receivers on plays you have to make if you want to be an NFL quarterback. It’s unfortunate that he didn’t get the chance to run the offense with more of the Pittsburgh regulars on the field, because the former OU quarterback may not get that many more opportunities in the preseason to impress the Steeler coaches and remain on the Pittsburgh roster once the team is reduced to the 53-player limit to start the season.
Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t have much to say about Jones’ quarterback performance in the NFL’s opening exhibition game of the 2015 season, but he did say this after the game about his No. 3 quarterback:
"“He (Jones) has room for improvement, obviously some of the game-management things, delay of game, we can’t have,” Tomlin said."