Do the Kansas City Chiefs have a Chris Jones problem?
Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones is coming under fire after an egregious display of poor effort on what would turn out to be a game-deciding play in the 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With just 30 seconds remaining and a goal-to-go situation, Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence fumbled the snap and fell. If it were any other team besides the Chiefs, this results in a sack at the very least, if not a turnover. But for Kansas City, set it to the Benny Hill Theme and watch sheer chaos ensue.
The music doesn’t distract from the fact that Jones practically gave up on the play the moment the ball was snapped. He was as much an observer as every fan in the stadium or sitting on their couches in front of the TV. His response to it all doesn’t make it much better, either.
“I thought multiple times we had him,” Jones told reporters after the game. “We’ve just got to finish. We’ve got to finish. We had multiple guys there that we just got to finish that play. It was a fluke play for him to be able to break that many tackles. But, yeah, I think I put it on us as a defense. We got to finish. You know, we got to bring him down on that.”
He’s part of the defense, but calling the play a fluke is hardly taking accountability for what transpired. While there were plenty of critics on social media, former Broncos CB Aqib Talib had some choice words for Jones’ effort.
The heat was so much on social media that Jones apparently deleted his X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram accounts.
Sure, Jones faced one of the best interior offensive lines in football on Monday, with the Jaguars’ group allowing one of the lowest pressure rates in the league. He was mauled and double-teamed throughout the game, contributing to the fatigue and exhaustion in this moment, but that’s why the Chiefs practice long-drive drills for weeks on end in St. Joe during training camp.
Yes, he tragically lost a close family member two weeks ago and deserves some grace for that. But he even said that football is his escape.
But let’s not pretend Jones was without help this week. His defensive teammates produced three sacks, seven QB hits, an interception, a forced fumble, and more. And he stood by as an observer and let them play 10 vs. 11 on what would become the biggest play of the game.
Is Chiefs DT Chris Jones living up to his contract in 2025?
Jones signed a five-year, $158.75 million contract in March of 2024, securing his place as one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in football. Through the first five games of the 2025 NFL season, he’s certainly not producing at the level he’s used to. The reality is that he’s pacing for what would rank as the worst statistical season since his rookie campaign in 2016.
Chiefs DT Chris Jones’ 2025 NFL Season Stats Through 5 Games:
- Tackles: 7
- Tackles for loss: 4
- Sacks: 1
- QB hits: 6
Does the team have a problem with the 31-year-old All-Pro? There’s definitely still time for him to turn things around this season. However, this play or lack thereof is something that’s going to follow him around until he manages to turn the corner.
