https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-tevin-jones-on-his-nfl-debut-i-have-be-a-better-guy-and-be-a-better-receiver/
Steelers’ Tevin Jones on his NFL debut: I have to be a better guy, better receiver
CLEVELAND — It had to be one of the better days in the football career and life of Tevin Jones. But as it ended late Thursday night, Jones was in no mood to celebrate his promotion to an NFL active roster for the first time.
“I didn’t do well enough,” Jones said after his NFL debut, “I didn’t do good enough to win the game.”
Jones’ Pittsburgh Steelers had a four-game winning streak snapped in a 21-7 loss to the Cleveland Browns. About five hours before kickoff, the Steelers announced the promotion of Jones to their active roster.
After 1 ½ seasons as part of the organization via the practice squad, the 26-year-old former University of Memphis receiver finally got to appear in an NFL regular-season game.
Tevin Jones knows the disappointment that comes with not surviving the NFL's final cut, and dealt with devastation far worse last year. Now, the receiver is hoping to stick with the Steelers. https://t.co/62yoLhoCbK— Kevin Gorman (@KGorman_Trib) September 1, 2018
Jones was targeted by four Mason Rudolph passes, catching two for 24 yards.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Jones downplayed his NFL debut.
“Every day is a big day for me; going out there for practice is a big day,” Jones said. “This is just another day, that’s how I see it. I went out here for a game. I see it as practice. So, all I can do right now is look back on the film and look at our mistakes and try to be a better person than I was today.”
Jones played 39 of the Steelers’ 74 offensive snaps in addition to six on special teams. By the end of the game he was one of only three wide receivers the Steelers had after JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson were forced to leave the game because of concussions.
Jones caught the first pass thrown to him in an NFL game — a 16-yard gain on third-and-17 late in the first half. He had an 8-yard catch in the fourth quarter, but the other two passes thrown to him were intercepted.
“I made a lot of mistakes,” Jones said, “and I have to go back and look at all those things and be a better guy and be a better receiver for my teammates.”
Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.
Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)