The Chiefs breathed a sigh of relief when Chris Jones’ groin injury prevented him from practicing on Sunday.
Chris Jones, one of the Chiefs’ primary defensive playmakers, was not present during Sunday’s training camp session. Jones was not wearing a helmet and wasn’t taking part in any exercises. Chiefs supporters were relieved to see that the great defensive tackle was allegedly sidelined due to a groin ailment.
Jones’ issue didn’t worry Chiefs head coach Andy Reid too much, which is always encouraging this early in training camp. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network confirmed this, stating that it is not thought to be a serious injury for the seasoned defensive tackle.
Chiefs DE Chris Jones’ groin strain is not believed to be serious, per @TomPelissero https://t.co/B6mj6EveTD pic.twitter.com/YGP7ZtPrTC
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) July 28, 2024
The best course of action is to wait for the problem to heal if you have a soft tissue injury or groin strain.
Given Jones’ importance to their defense and potential to make a big difference in their quest for a third consecutive championship, the Chiefs are likely to adopt that strategy with him. Tershawn Wharton played defensive lineman for the first team on Sunday while Jones was out.
After their postseason success, Kansas City had high expectations for their defense this year. The Chiefs still have one of the finest defenses in the league under Jones’ leadership, even without L’Jarius Sneed.
Jones recorded 30 total tackles, 29 quarterback hits, 10.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and four pass deflections in the previous campaign. Following his second consecutive season with 10 or more sacks, Jones was rewarded by the Chiefs with a hefty contract extension worth $158.75 million in five years.
Given Jones’ importance on defense and his recent massive five-year agreement, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him miss a few weeks leading up to Kansas City’s preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 10.