ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Chiefs defense end Chris Jones sustained an injury during private workouts earlier this month, prompting the Chiefs to place the second-year defender on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start training camp in St. Joseph, Mo.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones pursue a play during the team’s 26-10 win at the Oakland Raiders Oct. 16, 2016. (Photo courtesy Chiefs PR, Chiefs.com)
Jones underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee July 12, according to Rick Burkholder, the club’s head athletic trainer.
“He’ll be up here doing rehab,” Burkholder said. “He’ll start training camp on PUP, and then we’ll just see how he goes over the next week or two.”
Coach Andy Reid did not put a timetable on a return for Jones.
“I’m not seeing this as where he’s out for an extended amount of time,” Reid said. “I think it was a pretty routine thing. Getting him back up here rehabbing with Rick, we’ll know more.”
Linebacker Derrick Johnson and tight end Travis Kelce plan to take part in camp this week following surgeries that kept them out of much of the team’s offseason workouts.
Burkholder said Johnson, returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained last December, would not start camp on the PUP list.
“He’s able to do a good bit, and we’ll just rely on coach Reid and the coaches to monitor his reps,” Burkholder said, “and he’ll continued to do rehab with us but he’ll be in this camp.
Kelce, how underwent surgery on his left shoulder in February, also plans to work with the team beginning Tuesday.
“He’s the same as Derrick,” Burkholder said. “We’re just going to have him practice and monitor his reps.”
Burkholder indicated the team planned to closely watch both players reps, slowly working them back into workouts. Johnson participated in some non-contact drills during the team’s minicamp. Kelce served only as an observer during offseason practices open to the media.
Offensive lineman Parker Ehinger and linebacker Dadi Nicolas will start training camp on the PUP list along with Jones.
Ehinger sustained a torn ACL during last season’s Oct. 30 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Burkholder indicated he would join camp now to continue his rehab.
“He’ll start this camp out on PUP and do rehab with us but he’s doing fine,” Burkholder said. “He’s right on schedule.”
Nicolas suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in the regular season finale against San Diego. Burkholder said he is late in the rehab process and will continue his work in St. Joseph.
Burkholder’s update covered players reporting to camp early along with rookies, quarterbacks and other select veterans. The team plans to provide additional injury updates when the full squad reports for camp later this week.
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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