Now healthier, KC Chiefs’ Chris Jones makes presence felt in 20-17 win vs. Giants
Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones missed two games with a wrist injury this season, but the extent of his ailment wasn’t fully known.
That is, until after the Chiefs’ 20-17 win over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I ended up tearing some ligaments in my wrist and I tried to play through it,” Jones revealed. “I don’t make excuses for myself. I tried to play through it and realized I couldn’t play to my full potential while playing through it, so I thought it was best to take a couple of weeks off to let it heal.
“Thankfully, the team agreed. We came to an agreement, and I feel a lot better now. I’m able to do some things that I wasn’t able to do when it initially happened, and I feel good. I feel great to be back on the field with my brothers.”
Jones made his return to the lineup in Week 7, playing just 39 of the defense’s 68 snaps and totaling one tackle as he worked his way back from the missed time.
He gave a better taste of what he’s capable of doing against the Giants, even while admitting he’s not fully healthy.
“I won’t say 100%,” Jones said. “I don’t think I’ll be 100% this season.”
Nevertheless, Jones was a disruptive force Monday night, pressuring quarterback Daniel Jones on pass rushes from inside. He finished the game with two tackles, including one for a loss, a sack and two quarterback hits.
The veteran defensive lineman made a position change during the offseason, moving inside to left defensive end. Against the Giants, the Chiefs rotated Jones between the two spots and he took advantage of personnel matchups against the New York offensive linemen, especially inside.
“We’ve been doing that, it’s just he had more snaps in there,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Some of it was him just feeling better and the situation that was going on with the pass game part. He’s so effective in there.”
Jones pointed out thay his role on the defensive line since the position switch often depends on the down and situation.
“I’ve been on the inside on passing downs, been on the outside in base or run downs,” he said. “That’s typically been the theme this whole year. It’s just us getting teams to passing downs and being able to get nickel or dime (personnel packages) on the field to when I can get inside.”
For Jones, it doesn’t matter where he lines up to make an impact.
“I feel like I can be dominant inside or out,” he said.
The Giants discovered that Monday night.
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 1:22 AM.
