Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones has ended his holdout. He has agreed to a new one-contract with the team, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network on September 11. ESPN’s Adam Schefter also noted that Jones received incentives in the deal. They should allow the deal to surpass the $19.5 million he was set to earn in 2023.
Jones, 29, missed the entire offseason program and preseason in hopes of a new contract. He was in attendance for the season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions, though.
General manager Brett Veach released a statement through the team.
Chiefs All-Pro DL Chris Jones Ends Contract Holdout, Agrees to 1-Year Deal
Chiefs GM Issues Statement on Chris Jones
“Chris is an elite player in this league, and over the last seven years, he’s really developed into a leader on our team. … He’s been instrumental to our success and Super Bowl championship runs and it was a priority for us to keep him in a Chiefs uniform. I’d like to thank Chris and his representation, Michael and Jason Katz, for their desire and patience to get this done. Through this process two things were obvious, Chris wanted to be a Chief, and the Katz brothers worked diligently on his behalf.”
Veach had previously expressed confidence in a swift resolution even as Jones’ holdout bled into the regular season.
Jones and San Francisco 49ers EDGE rusher Nick Bosa were in similar positions. There was some thought that, if Jones didn’t match Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald’s contract, he could want to surpass Bosa’s five-year, $170 million contract. But it later came out that that was not the case, and this one-year deal would seem to suggest that.
There had been some contentious interactions between Jones and fans throughout this holdout up until just one day before the deal was announced. Teammate Travis Kelce also spoke on the situation, bargaining with Jones to return to the team. Now, the focus shifts back to the field.
Chris Jones Could Play in Week 2
Kansas City will visit the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 in a rematch of last season’s Divisional Round matchup. Jones is expected to suit up for that game after saying he would have been good for the opener.
The 6-foot-6 lineman recorded 15.5 sacks last season, tied for the third-most in the league in 2022. His 65 sacks are tied for the eight-most since he entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 2016.
Main Photo: Kareem Elgazzar/USA TODAY NETWORK
