Talk about making return

Kick returner Jones playing key role for Panthers since coming back from gruesome leg injury

Carolina kick returner Mark Jones rolls up his pants to show the legs that churned and shifted direction so brilliantly last week at Green Bay, earning him the NFC special teams player of the week award.

The quadriceps in his left leg is noticeably smaller than his right quad -- a 1 1/2-inch difference in diameter, he estimates.

The atrophy is a visible reminder of the gruesome injury that threatened his career last season when he was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While returning a kickoff at Detroit's Ford Field on Oct. 21, 2007, a Lions defender pulled him down, yanking his body backward. His left foot got caught in the artificial turf, causing his patella tendon to rupture.

When he looked down, his kneecap was out of place, resting on his quadriceps.

It was an untimely setback for Jones, who was the only NFL player ranked in the league's top 10 in kickoff and punt returns at the time.

Doctors told him there was a chance he'd be fully recovered in time for the 2008 training camp, but they also advised him of players with the same injury who either never regained top form or took up to two years to regain full strength.

Now remarkably effective considering the severity of his injury, Jones is preparing to face his former team in a Monday Night Football game that, barring a tie, will leave either Carolina or Tampa Bay in sole possession of first place in the NFC South Division.

Jones ranks seventh in the NFL in punt returns (11.8-yard average per return) and 12th in kickoff returns (26.0).

He reminisced this week about his long road to recovery, which included working out for almost three months in the offseason with Buccaneers players who were no longer his teammates and choosing to rely on his faith even when it seemed to contradict doctors' reports.

Jones had surgery three days after his injury and was placed on injured reserve by Tampa Bay. His injury was similar to that of Bucs running back Cadillac Williams, who suffered a more complicated patella rupture earlier last season in a game at Carolina.

Jones became an unrestricted free agent in late February and the Buccaneers chose not to re-sign him. His agent advised him that teams would wait until summer to offer him a tryout, provided he recovered quickly enough.

The Bucs allowed Jones to continue working out at their practice facility even though he was no longer on the team, but they required him to sign a waiver freeing them of any liability in case his knee worsened.

Jones said the injury taught him that he wasn't in control of his life.

The son of Pennsylvania pastors -- Revs. Harry and Dorrine Jones of Abounding Grace Family Christian Center in Media, Pa. -- Mark said he regularly applied scripture verses to his condition.

"It was hard for me relying on somebody, depending on somebody," Jones said. "But the one thing I said was, 'Lord, I'm trusting You.' "

Jones had to stop using the Buccaneers' facilities in May but was ready to try out for other teams by mid-June.

He signed with the San Diego Chargers and went through the preseason with them despite the fact that they were already well-stocked with proven kick returners.

The Chargers waived him before the regular season began, and Carolina claimed him as a replacement for injured Ryne Robinson.

Jones has been an excellent fit with the Panthers, improving steadily as the season has progressed.

He had arguably the best game of his five-year career last week at Green Bay, returning three kickoffs for more than 40 yards, including a crucial runback to the Panthers' 45-yard line in the final two minutes to give them good field position for their winning touchdown drive.

Before this season, Jones had returned 18 kickoffs, but none for as many as 40 yards.

Now he's getting set to play his former team in arguably the biggest game of the season. The Panthers and Buccaneers are both 9-3, and Carolina is seeking to avenge a 27-3 loss at Tampa earlier this season.

Jones said he he's not looking to prove the Buccaneers were wrong by not re-signing him, though he admits he doesn't know whether they gave up on him.

"It's going to be a big game for us [and] I know what's going to be at stake," Jones said.

"But it's not to say, 'Hey, I told you so' or [to try to make] big returns to say 'Look what I can I do.' It's about helping this team win and not getting caught up with what happened in the past."

Jones smiled as he stood on his two legs, one more muscular than the other.

He said he feels at peace, stronger than ever.