ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Seantavius Jones played well for the Kansas City Chiefs during offseason practices, but it was difficult to take him seriously as a regular-season roster candidate because he was buried on the wide receiver depth chart.

That started to change when Jones made one of the most impressive plays early in training camp when he out-jumped and out-muscled one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, Marcus Peters, to catch a deep pass from Alex Smith.

Jones has since continued to deliver big plays. The Chiefs, who have one of the most inexperienced groups of wide receivers in the league, are looking for one of their younger players to make a move up the depth chart.

Jones could be the one. He’s been getting snaps with the starters in practice.

“We’re kind of seeing him grow a little bit to where he’s giving himself a chance to get in there and work with the (starters), at least in the rotation," coach Andy Reid said. “It’s important that he maintains that. He’s done some nice things. Now the defense goes and studies him. They watch tape. Now what are you going to come back with? That will be his challenge."

Jones joined the Chiefs last year and was a member of the practice squad after spending two seasons on the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints.

Even though Jones is only 24, he’s one of the Chiefs’ oldest wide receivers. His experience -- he also failed to hook on after a brief trial with the Eagles last offseason -- has Jones thinking this could be his final attempt to reach a regular-season roster.

“This is Year 4 for me, and I know this is it for me, that this is the time I have to go out and really ball and prove myself," Jones said. “I feel like this is my last chance. I see a great opportunity.

“We have a lot of great players and a lot of different skill sets. One of my strengths is going deep. If I get the chance when the ball is thrown deep, I’m going for it."

Jones is playing with that kind of desperation. The play against Peters was a vivid illustration.

Jones is fast enough to get downfield quickly, but at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, is big enough to be physical with opposing cornerbacks.

The Chiefs had an officiating crew at practice that day, and after the catch, Peters pleaded his case that Jones had pushed off and should be penalized for offensive pass interference.

But no flag was thrown.

“I was just being aggressive to the ball," Jones said. “He actually did a good job against me at the line, so I was kind of close to the sideline and Alex just gave me a chance. I saw the ball was inside and knew I had to go get it and was just more aggressive to the ball."