Chris Jones still not with Chiefs ahead of Lions opener. Here are Game 1 implications

Barring something unexpected, it does not appear Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones will be playing in the season-opening game Thursday against the Detroit Lions.

During a scheduled press conference Friday, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Jones had not yet reported to the team. Reid also said he had no indication of when Jones would do so.

“I would tell you that you move on,” Reid said, referring to game-planning for Thursday’s Lions game. “I mean, as a coach, when the player is not here, then the next guy is up and rolling. Chris is a great player, but we’ve got other good players that’ll have to step their game up to fill the role of defensive tackle, defensive end and so on. Everybody just has to play their best, and then you work through it.”

Jones, 29, has held out all of training camp while trying to negotiate a new long-term deal with the Chiefs. To this point, his mandatory fines for missing summer workouts and training camp have exceeded $2 million.

Though Reid admitted the Chiefs’ defense wouldn’t be the same if Jones isn’t on the field — the team can’t fully fill in for Jones’ production, he said — KC would look to maximize the strengths of the teammates who would replace him.

“We’ve had success doing that, and so we’ll do it again,” Reid said. “I know the guys are excited to get in and play.”

Earlier this week, there was more optimism that Jones might suit up for the opener. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Wednesday he remained “hopeful” that Jones could return to the Chiefs for Week 1 after saying he’d had additional communication with Jones’ agents this week.

Things evidently didn’t improve over the next 48 hours, however, with Reid saying Friday he didn’t know when Jones might report to the team.

“There’s no indication, either way,” Reid said. “They (Jones’ agents and Veach) talked the other day, and I know Brett filled you in on that. I’m just working with the guys we have and making sure we’re set there.”

If Jones does show up, how many days would it take to prepare him to play in an NFL game? Reid said that would be something the Chiefs would have to assess once it happens.

“One thing about Chris is he keeps himself in good shape. I haven’t seen him, but I anticipate that he’d come back in relatively good shape and just working himself into football shape,” Reid said. “And as long as he’s physically in good shape, you can start working him in and getting him going. You kind of play it by ear and eyes after that and see where he’s at.”

Jones was the Chiefs’ unquestioned top defensive player in 2022, registering 15 1/2 sacks and earning first-team All-Pro status. He was placed on the NFL’s “did not report” list earlier this week, meaning he does not yet count toward the team’s 53-man roster.

Reid, when asked whether he was frustrated over Jones’ situation, remained diplomatic in his answer Friday.

“Everybody makes their own decisions. That’s the way it is in life. That’s the way it is in football. You have certain guys do it one way; certain guys do it another way. Chris has chosen to go this route,” Reid said. “Some other guys have chosen to get their deals done and come in and play. So listen, I’m not here to criticize one way or the other. We’ve had a lot of success with the guys that we have, and we go with it.”