Chiefs' Chris Jones: Agrees to historic deal with KC
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Jones and the Chiefs agreed Saturday on a five-year contract that includes $95 million guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
It's a historic deal that gives the veteran the highest average annual salary ever for a defensive tackle. After a 2023 campaign where Jones sat out the first game of the year while still negotiating a contract, the two sides have removed any drama on his status, with the team heading into free agency Wednesday. The 29-year-old was once again dominant this past season, recording 30 tackles, including 10.5 sacks, while also deflecting four passes over 16 regular-season contests. Additionally, he added eight tackles, including 0.5 sacks, two pass deflections and a forced fumble over the Chiefs' four postseason contests on their way to becoming the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions in the NFL since the Patriots of the 2004 season. Jones is now under contract until he's 34 years old, and the 2024 campaign will be his ninth in Kansas City.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Chiefs optimistic for new contract
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Kansas City has felt "growing optimism" about re-signing Jones to a new contract before free agency per a league source, Nate Taylor and Dianna Russini of The Athletic report.
The Chiefs are hoping to have Jones officially re-signed prior to March 11, when free agents become eligible to begin negotiations with other teams around the league. The standout pass rusher is reportedly seeking a contract that will pay him in the ballpark of $30 million annually, which would put him behind Nick Bosa and Aaron Donald. The All-Pro defensive lineman has compiled 25.5 sacks across the last two seasons, and he made game-changing plays in each of Kansas City's last two Super Bowl victories, making his value to the team undeniable. A recent restructure would allow the Chiefs to place the franchise tag on Jones if desirable, but L'Jarius Sneed seems like a likelier candidate for such a transaction.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Option picked up by K.C.
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The Chiefs picked up the option on Jones' contract, which pays him an extra $4.25 million in incentives and gives Kansas City the ability to franchise tag Jones this offseason, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
This move is more of a bookkeeping matter than anything else, as Jones was due the extra incentive money regardless. The All-Pro defensive lineman is still scheduled to hit the free agent market this offseason, but this restructuring allows Kansas City to franchise tag Jones if the team chooses to do so. Expect the 29-year-old to attract lots of attention after accumulating 30 total tackles, including 10.5 sacks and an additional 2.5 tackles for loss, in 2023.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: All clear for Super Bowl
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Jones (quad) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl LVIII matchup against the 49ers.
Despite his quad injury, Jones was able to log a full week of practice and he's in line to play in Sunday's affair. The 29-year-old defensive lineman received First-Team All-Pro honors for the second year in a row in 2023, putting up 30 total tackles, including 10.5 sacks, in 16 regular-season games. Jones has also tallied four total tackles, including 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two pass deflections during the Chiefs' playoff run, and he'll look to add to those totals in Super Bowl LVIII.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Ready after first week of SB prep
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Jones (quad) was limited at Friday's practice but doesn't have an injury designation after the first week of prep for Super Bowl LVIII against the 49ers.
Jones popped up on the Chiefs' estimated injury report Wednesday as a non-participant due to a quad issue, but he's since been able to log back-to-back limited practice sessions and there's no indication that he won't be ready come Feb. 11. The first-team All-Pro still has one more week to prepare for Super Bowl LVIII, so even if he has limitations during practice next week, it appears as if he's ready to play through his injury.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Another big year in 2023
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Jones tallied 30 tackles (20 solo), including 10.5 sacks during the 2023 regular season.
,While Jones was predictably unable to match his 15.5 sacks from a season ago, the veteran remains a nuisance as a pass rusher, tallying nine or more sacks for the fifth time in the last six years. His tackle totals were down in 2023, and he indeed graded out poorly on that front, but he's still an elite presence from the interior and frequently required double teams from the opposition. Jones will hit free agency this offseason if he and the Chiefs can't come to an agreement on an extension before then.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Secures sack in loss
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Jones recorded two tackles (one solo), including a sack, in Monday's 20-14 loss to the Raiders.
Jones didn't have a monster stat line, but he was able to get to quarterback Aidan O'Connell for a sack, his first since he had two against the Eagles in Week 11. The defensive lineman has had a quiet stretch, producing six tackles, including the sack, while also deflecting a pass over the last five contests.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Fantastic in 2023 debut
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Jones recorded two tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in Sunday's 17-9 win at Jacksonville.
A week after signing a one-year extension to return to the team, Jones made his presence felt in Week 2. He created problems for Trevor Lawrence all afternoon, and despite missing Week 1, Jones is now on pace for the third double-digit sack season of his career.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Reinstated Tuesday
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Jones (contract dispute) was reinstated from the reserve/did not report list Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.
One day after agreeing to terms with Kansas City on a new, incentive-laden one-year contract, Jones is off the reserve list, but the team still has a two-game roster exemption window in which to determine when he'll get back into the lineup. The defending champs may want to see how Jones looks in practice this week before making that determination after he sat out the entire offseason, including training camp and the preseason, before missing a Week 1 loss to the Lions. As a result, it's not yet known if he'll be active Sunday at Jacksonville.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Still holding out, no deal imminent
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Jones, who's currently on the reserve/did not report list, still isn't with the Chiefs on Sunday, and the two sides are not close on a deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
As Rapoport mentions, Kansas City opens the 2023 NFL season against the Lions on Thursday, so Sunday's session is essentially a Wednesday practice of a typical game week. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Jones has already accrued around $2 million in fines during his training camp holdout and also forfeited a $500,000 workout bonus. The superstar defensive tackle also will lose just over $1 million for each regular-season game he misses. Unless Jones returns to the team over the next day or two, Danny Shelton and Keondre Coburn are in line for increased roles Week 1.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Questionable with illness
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Jones (illness) did not participate at practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Houston.
It's a new concern for Jones, who hasn't missed a game so far this season. The three-time Pro Bowler does have a full day Saturday to recover before the game at the Texans kicks off Sunday, but if he's forced to sit out, Derrick Nnadi would probably be in line to see more work on the interior of Kansas City's defensive line.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Still in All-Pro form
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Jones totaled 27 tackles (18 solo) and nine sacks while also forcing a fumble over 14 games during the 2021 regular season.
Jones earned All-Pro honors thanks to his efforts during the campaign, marking the fourth straight season he's been on either the first team or second team depending on the publication. He hasn't slowed down since signing a four-year extension with the Chiefs prior to the 2020 season and heads into 2022 with two years remaining.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Clears COVID-19 protocols
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Jones (illness) was reinstated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday and is back on the Chiefs' 53-man roster, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Jones' return to the roster was expected after he was spotted earlier Thursday taking part in the portion of the Chiefs' practice that was open to the media, according to Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star. Assuming the star defensive lineman is feeling fine from a conditioning standpoint following a pair of practices Thursday and Friday, he should be ready to handle a normal workload in Sunday's game against the Steelers. Prior to sitting out the Week 15 win over the Chargers, Jones had recorded 12 tackles, five sacks, five pass breakups, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble over his last six appearances.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Good to go for Week 8
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Jones (personal) does not have an injury designation ahead of Monday night's game with the Giants.
Jones was excused from the first two practices of the week but was back in full Saturday. He'll be ready for the start at defensive end once again.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Returns to practice Wednesday
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Jones (wrist) returned to practice Wednesday, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.
Jones has missed two straight weeks with a wrist injury, but he appears on track to return for Week 7. The 27-year-old defensive tackle got off to a hot start with two sacks during the season opener, but he accumulated just four tackles over the next three contests. He will look to return to his Week 1 form against a Titans defense that has allowed 20 sacks through the first six weeks of the 2021 campaign.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Won't play in Week 6
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Jones (wrist) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against Washington, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports that Jones is close to returning, but it won't be this week, as he will miss his second straight game with the wrist injury. In his absence, Alex Okafor should again see extra playing time.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Doesn't practice Wednesday
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Jones (wrist) didn't practice Wednesday, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.
Jones was sidelined from practice last week, but he was given every chance to suit up in Week 5. However, he ended up missing Sunday night's clash with the Bills and continues to miss practices. The 27-year-old registered two sacks in Week 1, but he has been relatively silent since, so the Chiefs may elect to shut down their star defensive tackle to get him healthy for the stretch run.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Can't go Sunday night
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Jones (wrist) is inactive for Sunday night's game against the Bills, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
While the Chiefs wanted to give Jones every shot to play, his inability to practice all week was foreboding. Alex Okafor should see extra playing time in his stead.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Labeled game-time decision
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The Chiefs are viewing Jones (wrist) -- who is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest against the Bills -- as a true game-time decision, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The star defensive end has been receiving ongoing treatment for his wrist and failed to practice in any capacity this week. Since recording two sacks in the season-opening win over Cleveland, Jones hasn't gotten to the quarterback in the past three weeks while tallying only four tackles.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Two sacks Week 1
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Jones posted three solo tackles and two sacks in Sunday's 33-29 win over the Browns.
Jones saw more edge work in Week 1, and he was dominant with two timely sacks of Baker Mayfield. The 2016 second-round pick totaled 32 sacks over the past three seasons. His upside is through the roof if he keeps getting more work at end.
