Getty Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
There are 15 days remaining until the Kansas City Chiefs face the Detroit Lions in the regular season opener, and All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones is still holding out for a new contract. He also recently set a deadline for how long he’s willing to hold out.
To make matters worse, according to Kansas City head coach Andy Reid, there is currently no communication between the Chiefs and Jones.
“There’s been no communication, so I don’t know what’s gonna go (on) there,” Reid said on Wednesday during his press conference. “But whatever happens, happens. If you’re not there, the game goes on, right? That’s how it works.”
When asked if there is any way he could step in to help resolve the negotiations, Reid said, “No, not right now there’s not. So he’s got to … they’ve got to communicate and do their thing. There’s just been no communication.”
Patrick Mahomes Talks Chris Jones Holdout
Speaking to the media as well on Wednesday, Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked about Chris Jones and made it known Jones will be welcomed with open arms whenever he returns to the team.
“I know that stuff — contract stuff — is hard to talk about because everybody wants to make money for their entire family and everything like that,” Mahomes said during his press conference. “But I know how much Chris loves the Chiefs. He loves being a part of this organization. So I just try to stay out of it and tell Chris that I love him and that whenever he does come back, he’ll be welcomed with open arms.
“We know that he’s preparing himself so that whenever he does come back, he’ll be that dominant player that he always has been.”
Mahomes also made it known that he has kept in contact with Jones throughout his holdout.
“He’s in good spirits,” Mahomes said of Jones. “It’s a hard time for all players, I think, whenever this stuff comes up — because you want to play, you want to be out there. But at the same time, you want to take care of your family. So it’s finding that right spot and where you think you need to be at that time.
“It doesn’t hurt his relationship with any of us. We respect his decision. But at the same time, whenever he comes back, we’ll welcome him with open arms and know that he’s going to be a pivotal teammate to help us try and make a run at the Super Bowl again.”
Twitter Reacts to Andy Reid’s Comments
Users on Twitter — which was recently rebranded to “X” — reacted to Andy Reid’s update on Chris Jones on August 23.
“I am sure Chris Jones shows up by the first game,” one user wrote. “He’s not sitting out the year and missing 20 million. Also at his age coming back the next year there’s always a drop off. He needs to settle this or show up and get a contract from another team next year.”
“I have been really hoping that we sign him to an extension all off season. But now that he is just trolling on social media which has zero effect on his negotiations and only hurts those who have been in his corner I no longer care for him,” another user wrote.
@pgsween I have been really hoping that we sign him to an extension all off season. But now that he is just trolling on social media which has zero effect on his negotiations and only hurts those who have been in his corner I no longer care for him