Chiefs’ Chris Jones is rested and ‘ready to go play some football’

Because the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs come off their postseason bye week, they’re remarkably wholesome. By means of two practices making ready for Saturday’s Divisional spherical matchup in opposition to Houston Texans, each member of the 53-man roster was listed as a full participant.

That features star defensive sort out Chris Jones, who left Kansas Metropolis’s Week 16 sport (additionally in opposition to the Texans) with a calf harm — after which missed the crew’s remaining two contests. However Jones believes the day off has benefited him.

“I was able to get three weeks of rest and get my legs back under me,” he defined to reporters on Wednesday. “It was a long season. Fortunately enough, we were able to seal the first-round bye after the Pittsburgh game, and I was able to take another week off.”

For Jones, that’s been sufficient.

“I feel really good,” he added. “[I] feel excited — [and] ready to go play some football.”

His teammates had been able to play some soccer with out him. Towards the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17, Kansas Metropolis sacked quarterback Russell Wilson 5 occasions — prompting Jones to joke along with his place coach about whether or not the crew wanted him.

“I told Joe Cullen he’s going to get me out of here sooner than later playing like this,” stated Jones with a smile. “The guys played really, really good. But we’ve got a cohesive group that works really, really well together.”

Jones credited fellow defensive linemen George Karlaftis, Tershawn Wharton, Mike Pennell amd Derrick Nnadi as gamers who’ve stepped up this season.

Picture by Jamie Squire/Getty Photos

“So there’s no doubt in my mind,” he continued, “that we had any doubt going into the game — and I wasn’t surprised of the success we had within the game. I just told Joe, ‘I’d rather you have the success with me than without me.’”

Saturday’s sport begins what Jones hopes shall be a march to his fourth Tremendous Bowl win. As one among solely eight gamers remaining from 2019’s championship roster, he took a second to check this squad to the three different Tremendous Bowl groups.

“I think this team is a special team,” stated Jones, “however it’s completely different in a means. This crew exhibits a whole lot of resiliency. This crew can win in a mess of the way — whether or not it’s offense, protection or particular groups — and we’ve broadcasted that all year long. This crew had a whole lot of shut video games. Now we have had a whole lot of accidents [and] confronted a whole lot of adversity early on [and] all year long. So this crew has overcome lots simply to be right here.

“So I think this just [provides a] testament of how strong and how together this team is — how they can overcome a lot and have overcome a lot. So I appreciate the journey. You’ve got to be present within a moment. You’ve got to appreciate the journey — and also, you’ve got to continue to challenge yourself.”

Jones famous that his defensive teammates deliver a wealth of playoff expertise to the approaching video games.

“I think like two or three guys on defense haven’t had a Super Bowl or haven’t been to the AFC Championship,” he noticed, “and I feel these guys get the significance of locking in and the way necessary these video games are proper now. It’s not like we are able to come again if we lose and play once more.

“You know everything right now is hyped up — whether it’s your own personal ability [or] your skill work. Everybody’s putting extra work in — and throughout the building, I think it’s a fun time. You’ve got appreciate this. There are eight teams left — and we’re one of them.”

Picture by Ronald Martinez/Getty Photos

Though Jones’ 5 sacks this season are underwhelming by his requirements, he continues to earn honors. He’s been voted into his sixth Professional Bowl and named a first-team All-Professional for the third straight season. And whereas he appreciates these honors, they aren’t the one he values most.

“I don’t really care about Pro Bowls,” he stated. “When you concentrate on it, I had 15 and a half sacks in my third yr and I didn’t even make a Professional Bowl. In order that’s after I began actually not caring about making a Professional Bowl.

“All-Professional is necessary to me as a result of you understand it’s like one of the best at your place. That’s a respect factor out of your friends — and likewise from the league executives. However [the] Professional Bowl? I by no means actually cared about it. I felt prefer it was a recognition contest.

“We care about Super Bowls here. They can keep all the bowls they want. We care about Super Bowls. That’s what we play for. That’s what we care about. That’s the most important thing.”