Chiefs’ Jones still limited in practice as Sunday’s winner-to-Super Bowl game looms
The Kansas City Chiefs have a glimmer of optimism surrounding defensive tackle Chris Jones ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Friday that Jones, who is dealing with a calf injury, was a limited participant in practice — a plus when considering Jones did not practice at all on Wednesday and Thursday.
Whether Jones suits up Sunday and plays, though, remains the million-dollar question. The winner of Sunday’s game advances to Super Bowl LIV Feb. 2 in Miami.
“We’ll see,” Reid said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow (Saturday) and we’ll just go from there.”
Jones, whom the Chiefs officially designated as questionable on their NFL injury report, echoed his head coach when asked if he would play.
“I’m still day-to-day,” Jones said. “Just exhausting all resources with (head athletic trainer) Rick (Burkholder), the training staff and just continue to build up to Sunday to see how it feels.”
Jones suffered the injury last week during practice. He attempted to go through a pregame warm-up before the Chiefs took on the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round but couldn’t push off his right calf and was declared inactive.
He was observed on the practice field Wednesday and Thursday before returning to practice Friday with a black protective sleeve on his lower right leg.
While it isn’t always necessary for a star player to go through a full practice during the week before playing — see tight end Travis Kelce (knee) last week — Jones wasn’t ready to say he’d be just fine with only one limited practice.
“Whatever Rick tells me what to do,” Jones said. “I trust in him and the training staff to ensure that they got my best ability at hand and just continue to build.”
If Jones isn’t available for Sunday’s game, the Chiefs are likely to lean on defensive tackles Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, Xavier Williams and rookie Khalen Saunders in a rotational role against the Titans.
Kelce’s availability, meanwhile, is looking promising for the AFC Championship Game.
“He’ll be good,” Reid said.
Kelce, who was limited in all three practices this week, does not have an assigned game designation on Friday’s injury report.
The Chiefs listed running back LeSean McCoy (illness) and backup quarterback Matt Moore (illness) as questionable for the game against the Titans.
