TE Travis Kelce Understands The Importance Of Chris Jones & Wants Him To Return
The Kansas City Chiefs’ top defensive lineman Chris Jones’ health is the greatest unknown going into Week 1. Travis Kelce tried his best to convince Jones to return to the Chiefs while he waits for a long-term deal.
Before becoming a free agent in 2024, Jones is now in the last year of his current deal. Jones made the decision to miss offseason workouts because the Chiefs were not willing to give him the deal he wants. However, as Week 1 approaches, Kelce is aware of Jones’ significance to the Chiefs’ success thanks to the New Heights podcast.
Travis Kelce’s message to Chris Jones (via: @newheightshow) #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/TLsFA77tTy
— shelby (@shelby_l_s) September 1, 2023
TE Travis Kelce Understands The Importance Of Chris Jones & Wants Him To Return
On his most recent podcast, Travis Kelce pleaded with Chris Jones to join the Kansas City Chiefs once more, saying, “I just don’t get it.”
“Chris, can you please come back?” Kelce said on the “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce” podcast, which he appears on regularly with his brother, who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. “You’re really scaring me, man. I don’t get it. You must know something that I don’t know because I just don’t get it. I really want to get another Super Bowl ring with you, brother. This is me bargaining with you to just come back and play football for the Chiefs. Please, we need you. We need you badly, and I don’t know what the situation is.
“He’s just the best defensive player in the league right now. He’s deserving of all the money in the world. Chris, I love you. Please come back now.”
Travis Kelce talking about Chris Jones 👀 pic.twitter.com/hNirHsO8kH
— BBQ Dom (@RealBBQDom) September 1, 2023
Jones wants a new deal that better reflects his status as one of the NFL’s top defensive players. More defensive tackles earn $20 million a year than Jones does. The star should be paid more than Quinnen Williams ($24 million), the highest-paid rookie DT who renewed his contract this offseason, who is closer to Aaron Donald ($31.66 million) than to Williams.
As #Chiefs Chris Jones continues his holdout, a look at his impact on KC's defense:
With Chris Jones on the field:
1st In the NFL QB Pressure %Without Chris Jones on the field:
28th In the NFL QB Pressure %* Over the past 5 seasons, via ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NpqKUrpDYV
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 1, 2023
The 29-year-old was added to the reserve/did not report list by K.C. earlier this week after it reduced its roster to 53 players. Jones is on the edge of missing game checks and has been content to amass penalties despite missing the duration of training camp. The four-time Pro Bowler is obviously confident that a payday will cover the fines.
The Chiefs don’t win SB LVII without Chris Jones because they don’t GET to SB LVII without Chris Jones.
He was the best player in the AFCC vs the Bengals and made the play of the game that kept the Bengals from driving down and scoring with less than a minute remaining. pic.twitter.com/TMBuWQtDQA
— 🗣🎙‼️ (@LanceTHESPOKEN) August 23, 2023
Travis Kelce is aware that Chris Jones would significantly impact the Chiefs’ ability to successfully defend their Super Bowl championship. Although Kelce is unable to give Jones a contract, the tight end is optimistic that a deal can be reached between Jones and the Chiefs as soon as possible.
Me walking into the start of the Chiefs’ season realizing Chris Jones might have been serious about missing games: pic.twitter.com/HQHDW2XhP6
— Patrick Allen (@RPatrickAllen) August 31, 2023
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