Last Sunday, Patriots cornerback/returner Marcus Jones made his season debut on offense with a five-yard carry.

Four days later, the explanation for Jones’ return to the offensive side turned some heads.

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt told reporters Thursday he didn’t know Jones had played offense as a rookie in 2022, when the Patriots’ staff used him often as a part-time receiver and gadget player for 18 snaps. In fact, Jones only played offense last weekend against the Rams because he texted Van Pelt offering his services as a ball carrier, after he’d made the same suggestion to head coach Jerod Mayo.

On Friday, Mayo explained why he didn’t relay Jones’ offer or mentioned his prior offensive experience to Van Pelt.

“Look, the primary focus for us this year was to get Marcus healthy and to get Marcus ready to go a a cornerback and a punt returner,” Mayo said. “And that was the primary goal. That was our focus.”

“How much time do we want to spend on gadget plays? Because he’s most valuable on the defensive side of the ball and punt return.”

Mayo indicated he had no second thoughts about not communicating with Van Pelt.

“Everyone in this building, everyone knows what (Jones) can do with the ball in his hands,” Mayo said. “I mean, we see those things. Again, I would say the primary focus was for him to play corner.”

In 2022, Jones caught four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. He picked a first down on three of those catches. Last year, he suffered a season-ending torn labrum in Week 2.

This season under Van Pelt, the Patriots offense ranks 31st out of 32 teams in scoring at 16.5 points per game.