Chiefs HC Andy Reid provides troubling update on star defender
With 15 days to the season opener against the Detroit Lions, the Kansas City Chiefs appear to be in a game of chicken with star DT Chris Jones. He's recently taken to the app formerly known as Twitter to make it clear that he'll sit out regular season games if he must. This is news to Andy […]
With 15 days to the season opener against the Detroit Lions, the Kansas City Chiefs appear to be in a game of chicken with star DT Chris Jones.
He's recently taken to the app formerly known as Twitter to make it clear that he'll sit out regular season games if he must. This is news to Andy Reid and the rest of the decision-makers in Kansas City, who all seemed to have expectations that the holdout would be over by now.
Asked point blank whether he expected Jones for Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, Reid couldn't give a definitive answer because all the team has heard from Jones and his camp is static.
"There has been no communication," Reid said. "So I don't know what's going to go on there. Whatever happens, happens. If he's not there, the game goes on right. That's how it works."
Having a personal relationship with Jones doesn't seem to be helping either. Reid says that in the interim, there isn't anything he could do to get involved.
"Right now, there's not," Reid said. "They've got to communicate and do their thing. There has just been no communication."
Because of the lack of communication, the Chiefs are in the dark about whether he intends to rejoin the team. They're left treating the scenario as if the player were injured and they're getting others prepared to fill in his role for Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season.
"Yeah, they're working their tail off," Reid said. "I appreciate that. It's similar as if somebody gets hurt. If somebody gets hurt, you've got to go play. That's the approach they've taken. Chris (Jones) isn't here? That's an opportunity for us to play. They've worked their tail off there. It has been impressive to watch."
Short of a major change in the next two weeks, it seems like Lions HC Dan Campbell is going to get his wish for Week 1 of the regular season. Even if Jones does return at this point, Steve Spagnuolo has made it clear that missing all of training camp will impact his ability to get on the field and play a full helping of snaps.
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Featured image via Chiefs presser 8.23.23
