Kansas City Chiefs star defensive lineman Chris Jones was a late scratch with a calf injury on Sunday, and there’s a chance he may miss the AFC Championship Game, too.
Speaking with media Monday about Jones’ injury, head coach Andy Reid said it’s a day-to-day thing and that they would have to “see how he does” for next weekend’s conference championship game against the Tennessee Titans.
“We’ll just have to see how he does,’’ Reid said, per Adam Teicher of ESPN. “It’s a day to day thing.’’ Reid said Jones wasn’t close to playing against Houston last week. “He couldn’t push off and go,’’ Reid said. “It was an easy decision right there.’’
Jones led all Chiefs defenders with nine sacks this past regular season, and he’s racked up 24.5 in the past two seasons. That’s incredible production from an interior lineman, and Jones is also strong against the run.
Needless to say, given the Chiefs’ weaknesses lie mostly on the defensive side of the ball, and given how Tennessee has been steamrolling folks lately, Jones’ presence in the lineup next Sunday would be a huge help. If he’s still ailing, then it’s going to put that much more pressure on Patrick Mahomes and Co. to make up for it on offense.