A week ago, Chris Jones was back in Kansas City, hammering out a deal with the Chiefs to get back on the football field.
On Sunday, Jones was in Jacksonville hammering away at the Jaguars’ offensive line and quarterback Trevor Lawrence in getting the Chiefs back in the win column.
It seemed like Jones hadn’t missed a single day instead of the 51 that he missed holding out for a pay raise as he returned to the lineup with a flourish, piling up 1.5 sacks and a batted pass while also forcing a backward pass from Lawrence for a loss as the Chiefs held off the Jaguars 17-9.
It was all in days work for Jones, however.
“I mean, that’s what I’m here for, for especially plays like that,” Jones told reporters after the game. “You know, when my number’s called, I try to answer that, and we’re just going to continue to pick up where we left off.”
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Jones played 34 of the team’s 67 defensive snaps on Sunday. Head coach Andy Reid felt Jones could handle that workload on a day when temperatures in Jacksonville reached 90 degrees with a heat index topping 100.
“I figured he’d be able to play about a half a game, and we shuttled him in and out,” Reid said. “He did a great job. Listen now, I’ve mentioned this before, over the years here, he’s learned to keep himself in shape.”
Jones, who trained joked after the game that he might need another three weeks before he could go again, “so I’ll see you guys in three weeks.”
“The heat didn’t bother me,” Jones said. “I was well prepared for it. But it was tough, tough at times at spurts but, yes, felt really good. I felt like I was back in Miami.”
Reid thought Jones would have a good outing Sunday, but the 29-year-old defensive lineman exceeded his coach’s expectations.
“When I saw him out of practice, he was moving around pretty good and his endurance seemed good,” Reid said. “I felt comfortable that he would go in and be able to do his thing. Maybe not to that level. That was a heck of a job though by him.”
Jones also left an impression on quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“Just to be able to make that impact on a game after not being in training camp,” Mahomes said. “You can work out as much as you want off the field. I know this. But to be able to come to Jacksonville where it’s hot, humid, and dominate against a great team, it’s truly special, and I’m glad he’s on my team.”
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spangnuolo wasn’t afraid to put arguably his most valuable weapon to work immediately shifting across the defensive line. Jones played 11 of his 31 snaps lined as an edge rusher, mostly on third downs opposite Felix Anudike-Uzomah with Mike Danna and George Karlaftis inside. That quartet combined for four sacks of Lawrence on the day.
Kicking outside as an edge rusher is a role that Jones embraces.
“I think we’ve just been building it ever since Spags come in there,” Jones said. “It’s more so about communication between us and trust between us that I know my plays, that I know the defense inside and out, and being comfortable with me being able to get outside.”
During practice this week, Jones and tight end Travis Kelce enjoyed moments of frivolity, dancing on the field during the portion of the workout open to the media. Kelce said he wanted to make sure Jones knew his teammates welcomed him back and there was no bad blood after the holdout.
“I love that guy,” Kelce said. “You know, sometimes contracts and things like that can kind of get in the way of, or at least the media can portray somebody to be somebody that they’re not and things like that. So I just wanted to make sure that he knew that we were happy as hell to get them back out there on the field and in the building and just his energy is needed, man.”
Jones said he had no expectations for his first game back from the hold, calling it “just another game.” He emphasized enjoying his time back with his teammates and picking up exactly where he left off after his last game — winning Super Bowl LVII in February.
“Same thing as it was before I left,” he said. “Have fun, play hard and find a way to win.”
