Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones had an emotional week, leaving the team mid-week to attend his aunt’s funeral in Mississippi before racing back to star in the team’s big win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
After the game, the veteran defensive end had a strong message for the teammates who supported him through the difficult week.
As The Associated Press reported, Jones attended his aunt’s funeral service early in the day on Sunday and was able to return in time to suit up for the game against the Ravens. Jones had a big performance, recording a tackle for a loss, deflecting a pass, and making two quarterback hits on Lamar Jackson in the 37-20 win.
Jones helped the Chiefs get back to .500 with the win, moving to 2-2 and back into the race for the AFC West. Speaking to reporters after the game, Jones had a strong message for his teammates and thanked them for their support.
“Those are my brothers,” Jones said. “They were very supportive and understanding of the schedule, the funeral, to where I could still be at the game and be supportive of my family aspect of it.”
Jones also said that his teammates helped lift his spirits in what was an otherwise difficult week.
“I mean, it’s tough any time you lose someone you love and cherish and care about. It’s emotional,” Jones said. “But being around good energy, good people – it makes you feel good.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes also had a message for Jones, saying the team was happy that he was able to return in time for the critical game.
“Obviously we were praying for Chris, and we love him, and we’re just happy to have him here, so we can be his brothers and support him, and I think it made guys step up and want to play even harder for him,” Mahomes said. “I think it speaks to the brotherhood we have here in the locker room.”
The Chiefs faced a critical juncture going into Sunday’s game, with two preseason Super Bowl favorites both coming into the game at 1-2. The Chiefs had struggled on offense through the first three weeks but looked dominant at times against the Ravens, racking up 382 total yards while winning 37-20.
Mahomes said the team had been frustrated with their mistakes through the first three games of this season, which made the win against the rival Ravens that much better.
“We’ve been making little mistakes here and there and that causes frustration, but we’ve been learning from them,” the Chiefs quarterback said. “I’ve been proud of the guys for the way they’ve responded, getting better every week.”
The Chiefs got a key return in the game as second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy returned from a shoulder injury. He led the team both in rushing with 38 yards on two attempts and receiving, making five catches for 83 yards.
Jones also stressed the importance of the game, saying it was important for the team to get back on track.
“It was a big step forward for us,” Jones said.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
