Chris Jones expected to be at Chiefs' season opener, but won't play

The saga between the Kansas City Chiefs and star DT Chris Jones continues to take some unique twists and turns. As the Chiefs gear up to face the Detroit Lions on Thursday night's season opener, Jones isn't expected to play in the game. He told reporters at a charity event on Wednesday that he'd be ready […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor

Sep 7, 2023 1:10 PM EDT

The saga between the Kansas City Chiefs and star DT Chris Jones continues to take some unique twists and turns.

As the Chiefs gear up to face the Detroit Lions on Thursday night's season opener, Jones isn't expected to play in the game. He told reporters at a charity event on Wednesday that he'd be ready to play if a new deal was agreed upon ahead of kickoff. It doesn't look like they'll cross that finish line, as the latest reports continue to indicate the two sides remain far apart on a contract extension.

Jones is, however, expected to be in attendance at the game on Thursday night. Just not in the capacity that many had hoped. The Athletic's Nate Taylor was the first to report the possibility:

"Perhaps the strongest outcome, according to league sources, is that Jones, the All-Pro defensive tackle, watches his teammates perform from a suite inside Arrowhead Stadium."

Former Chiefs FB Anthony Sherman later confirmed that Jones would be at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on 810 WHB:

Anthony Sherman just said on the Border Patrol on @SportsRadio810 that Chris Jones will be at the stadium tonight. He’ll be in street clothes so he won’t play but he’ll be in the building at the game.

Hopefully a good sign (no pun intended)
— Jason Anderson (@J810Anderson) September 7, 2023

Maybe this is a good sign as Anderson suggests. Perhaps it tells us that talks have resumed and are heading in the right direction. The latest reports from NFL Network seem to indicate otherwise, though. Ian Rapoport even suggested that Week 8 might actually be the earliest we see Jones.

According to NFL Network's James Palmer, the Chiefs are not opposed to Jones being there to see the Super Bowl LVII banner drop.

There's a pretty good chance Chris Jones will be at Arrowhead tonight in a suite to watch the #chiefs open up the season against the #Lions. If he's there it wouldn't be a surprise to the Chiefs either and they are not opposed to allowing Jones to be there and see the Super Bowl…
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) September 7, 2023

It's hard to say he'll be a distraction to players down on the field by attending the game. They probably won't even know that he's there until after the game. One thing it's sure to do is make Jones the center of attention on the broadcast on a night when he should be suited up next to his teammates and playing.