The Denver Broncos have been awarded cornerback Cyrus Jones after the Baltimore Ravens waived the former Alabama standout on Tuesday.
The Broncos hold the ninth spot in the NFL waiver priority this week and claimed Jones for their active roster.
Jones served as Baltimore's punt returner for the Ravens' first eight games of the season. Jones was on the field for 11 defensive snaps and 86 special-teams plays, and he averaged 9.4 yards on 12 punt returns.
Jones' last return for the Ravens came in Baltimore's 37-20 victory over the New England Patriots on Nov. 3. In the second quarter, a punt went through Jones' hands. The Patriots recovered the loose football at the Ravens 20-yard line and scored a touchdown four snaps later.
Jones was inactive for Baltimore's 49-13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas handled the returns for the Ravens.
Baltimore signed Thomas last week after he'd been released by the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 5. Thomas has returned 86 punts and 59 kickoffs in his six NFL seasons.
The Broncos have problems on special teams, but not primarily on punt returns. Rookie wide receiver Diontae Spencer has averaged 8.2 yards per return as Denver's primary punt returner this season, and the Broncos rank 11th in punt-return average among the NFL's 32 teams.
Denver is giving up 31.5 yards per kickoff return, the worst average in the NFL, and 11.7 yards per punt return, the second-worst in the NFL.
Jones has played in 31 NFL regular-season games. He has averaged 10.1 yards on 46 punt returns and 21.3 yards on nine kickoff returns.
The Broncos visit the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
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