The Kansas City Chiefs defense will have to move forward without their star defensive anchor Chris Jones who is away from the team as he continues his holdout in an effort to secure a new long-term contract with the team.
Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo admitted that the team will need some time to figure out how to play without their 29-year old cornerstone, saying that continuity is key but that this year’s team may not have that luxury as Jones continues his holdout.
“You’re always looking for continuity and continuity comes with reps and being around each other and together,” Spagnuolo said, according to ESPN. “We haven’t had that. [There are] a lot of moving pieces right now…Sometimes it takes the first quarter of the season to figure out who you are and what you have. Along the way you hope you’re winning games but it might take us a little while to figure all of that out.”
Jones, a four-time Pro Bowler, recently hinted that he may not return to the Chiefs until Week 8.
There is no denying Jones’ importance to the defense, and his value to the team as a leader. Just how long the holdout will carry on will be a storyline for all of sports social media as the season kicks off.
