It almost feels inevitable. 

When it is over for a defensive end, it's over. And frankly, for Chandler Jones, his time with the Las Vegas Raiders might be ending. 

The Raiders drafted Tyree Wilson at No. 7 overall, putting Jones on notice following a season in 2022 that is best described as lackluster. 

After notching just 4.5 sacks last season, the Raiders drafted Wilson to replace him. It is a reality not many in the organization are really wanting to admit. 

That is why the start of training camp is an important moment in time for Jones, who has to have a bounce-back preseason if he wants to avoid being relegated to rotational pass rusher rather than an anchor on the defensive line. 

The pressure to perform isn't lost on Jones. In the early summer, he admitted that 2022 wasn't what he wanted it to be to the media. 

"Obviously, last year I went down with an injury the second to the last game of the season," Jones told the media. "With that injury, it's a little bit hard to work out and lift. I went through a whole rehab process, and as I was rehabbing, I kind of took my time as opposed to just jumping into weights and trying to gain muscle right away. So, got back healthy, then I started working out, lifting, and that's where I am. I'm kind of just building muscle right now. So, you kind of just shed the leaves off the tree and then growing them back on.”

Part of providing value to the Raiders throughout training camp means recognizing where Jones is as a player currently. 

He may never be the imposing force he was in 2019 again. That is okay. Where he can still be impactful is in a veteran leadership role that will define his interactions with the Raiders' first-round selection. 

"Football, especially at this level, statistics are very tricky," Jones said. "You can sit there and stare at stats, but at the end of the day as long as you're grading out well by the coaches and you're doing your job, and you might be freeing up other guys, as long as you're putting the team first, that's all that matters.

"Do I want more stats? Of course. Is that my goal? Of course. I would be selling myself short if I didn't. But you can't go chasing them."

Training camp will be a busy time for the Raiders but Joens especially. He will be required to reinvent himself or he could be looking at a far-diminished role during the 2023 season or being off the team entirely. 

Raiders: Chandler Jones stepping into a mentoring role for younger players on the team

Chandler Jones is looking to pay it forward after finally getting healthy over the offseason.

Feature image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.