Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, fresh off signing a lengthy contract extension in March, should be present for the team’s upcoming training camp that begins in St. Joseph next month. But will he be practicing every day? Jones indicated Wednesday that part hasn’t been completely resolved with coach Andy Reid.
“Listen man, I’ve already been talking to Andy about, ‘Let me skip out on training camp. I’m a little older, right?’” Jones said Wednesday at his youth football camp at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park. “I can feel it. I can feel when we have a day on training camp. Give me like two days off and one day on then, and we maybe can work something out, you know?” Sitting out the summer stretch didn’t appear to hurt Jones in 2023.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) warms up during the second day of mandatory mini-camp practice at the Chiefs training complex on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel [email protected] Jones, a holdout for camp and the first regular-season game before agreeing to a one-year deal in September last season, went on to earn first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors while tying for the team lead with 10 1/2 sacks. So what was Reid’s response to Jones’ recent request for some training camp time off? “He just looked at me,” Jones said with a smile. “So the conversation is still ongoing.”
There’s also this to consider: Jones, entering his ninth season with the Chiefs, will turn 30 next week. He was asked Wednesday what might be a realistic compromise given his specific circumstances. “If I’m able to do a day on, a day off, or a day on and a half a day (off), I can do that,” Jones said. “I think it’s pretty fun.” Jones said his new extension with the Chiefs — worth $95 million guaranteed — hadn’t changed his approach to the offseason. He said the most significant part of the deal was knowing where he would be for the foreseeable future. “The mindset is always the same: being in the best shape you could be in, find a way to interact with the community, but also better yourself, doing a good deed a week,” Jones said. “I don’t think my mindset ever changed, year in and year out (through different contract situations). Just I get a little wiser.
I get a few more gray hairs. And we’re gonna keep this thing going.” Jones was quick to participate in drills at his inaugural camp on Wednesday, instructing kids, lining them up and cheering them on during offense vs. defense drills. He also has another youth camp slated to take place in Springfield, Missouri, on Friday.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones, left, watches an offensive play during his youth football camp on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas. Jesse Newell, KC Star On several occasions, Jones raised his hand to acknowledge when campers started chanting, “C.J.! C.J.!” “That’s what it’s all about, man: the kids, the youth. I think it’s very important to pour into the youth. I think it’s very important that you engage with the community,” Jones said. “I hate how we waited this damn long (in his career) to do it, but a lot of things transpired.
And I’m just fortunate enough for this to be my first camp.” Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones speaks with players at his youth football camp on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas. Jesse Newell, KC Star Jones said, in recent days, he’s spent most of his time training and playing with his children. He planned to take a vacation in July, right before the start of training camp. “Try to get my mind right,” Jones said, “to do this three-peat.”