Any concerns of Chris Jones showing signs of rust this season were quickly tossed aside like the All-Pro has done to quarterbacks.
Jones returned to the field in prime form after missing all of training camp and Week 1 due to a contract stalemate, and he hasn’t let up since.
Heading into Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jones has posted a sack in each game he’s played this year and simultaneously put a smile on Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid’s face.
“On Wednesday, Reid commented via a team transcript, ‘Over the past few years, we have seen him grow and mature. I believe he’s taking it seriously — he has demonstrated considerable focus on honing his skills in both the defensive tackle and defensive end positions over this period,”
The statistics clearly indicate that Jones has been causing significant disruptions.
Jones, who set an NFL record with a 11-game sack streak in 2018, has currently recorded a sack in eight straight games since last season. This is the longest ongoing streak in the NFL.
So far this year, he has recorded 5.5 sacks, significantly improving the Chiefs’ overall pass rush. According to Next Gen Stats, with Jones on the field for 679 dropbacks, Kansas City’s sack rate stands at 8.7% and pressure rate at 33.9%. In contrast, without him on the field for 219 dropbacks, the sack rate drops to 5.9% and the pressure rate to 25.1%.
Jones, who also boasts 11 quarterback hits and 18 quarterback pressures, expressed his belief that each year presents its own challenges and every season its own adversities. He emphasized that success largely depends on the support of the team. He believes that selfless teammates who allow you to excel at your strengths can uplift the entire team. He credits his success to the cooperative spirit of his teammates in the locker room.
His production and his impact are all the more impressive considering the time he missed sitting out before he and the Chiefs agreed to a new one-year deal.
Despite everything, Jones remains as impressive as ever. This is a significant statement, considering his history of winning two Super Bowls with the Chiefs and being a four-time Pro Bowl runner.
Jones, with 15.5 sacks in 2022 which led to his initial All-Pro selection, has consistently been a threat on the defensive line. Though typically seen as a defensive tackle, he has spent 60% of his third-down snaps this season playing at the edge, according to Next Gen Stats.
“Given his talent, you have to utilize him in various ways,” Reid stated. “While he isn’t a specific target, it’s understood that the opposition will attempt to slow him down. The more we can vary his position, the more beneficial it is for him. He’s a versatile athlete with a strong understanding of the game, which allows us to do so. Not all players offer this kind of adaptability. Our defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, and defensive line coach, Joe Cullen, exploit this by providing him with opportunities both on the outside and inside to shake things up.”
With Jones on the field, Kansas City (5-1) remains undefeated this year. The Chiefs defense, allowing a mere 14.7 points per game, ranks second in the NFL and is the best the franchise has seen since 1997, according to NFL Research.
Jones has evidently shown no signs of rust since his return. He’s performing phenomenally, just as he always has, and is close to achieving his own record for consecutive games with a sack. The Chargers are his next opponents, a team he managed to rack up four sacks against in two games in 2022.
