ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills wide receiver Zay Jones is tied with Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp in having played 712 snaps this season, seventh-most among rookies who play on offense.

But the disparity in production between the two has been striking. Kupp, a third-round pick, has 62 catches for 869 yards and five touchdowns. Jones, a second-round pick, has 25 catches for 291 yards and two touchdowns.

It has been an underwhelming season for the Bills' 32nd-ranked passing offense, and Jones' disappointing performance has been just one part of the losing equation for offensive coordinator Rick Dennison.

The Bills have gotten inconsistent play from quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who ranks 17th in completion percentage (62.1), 25th in yards per attempt (6.6) and 17th in Total QBR (51.8). Even when they have not been sidelined by knee injuries, there has been not much to show from wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin (14 catches, 190 yards and one touchdown in five games) and Jordan Matthews (25 catches for 282 yards and one touchdown in 10 games), both of whom the Bills acquired in trades since the start of training camp.

Overall, Bills wide receivers have averaged 7.27 catches per game, the worst mark since the 2011 Ravens and Texans, and 93.3 receiving yards per game, the worst since the 2011 Jaguars.

Jones' struggles through the first two months of the season were well documented, but he seemed to turn a page in November, catching 13 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns in three games that month.

December has not been as kind to the rookie. Jones has not caught a pass since the fourth quarter of a Week 13 loss to the New England Patriots. That was also the last game he started. Jones has been targeted twice since and has seen his share of offensive snaps dip from 97 percent in Week 13 to 61.2, 71 and 75.7 percent the past three games.

Deonte Thompson has effectively passed over Jones. After earning his first start for the Bills in Week 10 when a string of injuries hit the receiver room, Thompson retained his starting job in Week 14 when Benjamin returned from his knee injury, making Jones the No. 3 receiver.

Despite the swap atop the depth chart, coach Sean McDermott said Thursday, "Our confidence in Zay has not changed."

Thompson, who offers more speed than Jones or Benjamin, has led the Bills with 141 receiving yards since Week 14. However, he left Thursday's practice with a shoulder injury, which could create an opportunity for Jones this Sunday when the Bills conclude their regular season in Miami.

Because Jones was the No. 37 overall pick in April's draft, the Bills presumably would want him to play a bigger role next season. Thompson is a free agent, casting doubt on his status, while Benjamin is under contract through 2018 because the Carolina Panthers exercised his fifth-year rookie option.

That leaves an opening for Jones to step up next season, a topic ESPN discussed with the rookie wideout at his locker Thursday:

Q: How would you assess your entire season?

Jones: "I would say just growth. Learning process. I don't take anything for granted this season. I'm glad for the highs and the lows, because I feel like they're going to propel me into seasons to come. I'm looking at it from a wide-range perspective. Coming here, I had all these goals and expectations. Sometimes things don't always go the way you want them to, but I just know ultimately there is a greater purpose. So just stay positive. I've learned so much, gone through a lot. All these changes, everything that has happened. I'm proud to be here, in this moment."

Q: What have you learned these past three games?

Jones: "Just being unselfish. Knowing it's about the team. We still have won games, so I can't be mad about that or frustrated about that. Also just growth and adversity, knowing this is the NFL. Some stuff doesn't bounce your way. Players get paid, too, to go out and make plays. Sometimes you're not going to make every play. But it's no reason to start hanging your head or start giving up on yourself. I believe in myself 100 percent, I believe in this football team 100 percent. So just keep at it, and really embody what coach McDermott says in trusting the process."

Q: What do you want to do better next season?

Jones: "Everything. I mean, like, everything. I'm talking from fundamentals, high-pointing footballs, creating more separation, getting faster, getting stronger. I know it's cliché, but everything. I don't think there's one thing that I have absolutely mastered in this league at all. I have to start from scratch, start over. This season has been humbling. So really just go after everything and attack everything. But we still have games left, so I still have to find a way to get these things right these last couple weeks and make this playoff push. Then I'll focus on the offseason."