Chiefs Bracing to Be Without Star Defender on Christmas Day vs. Steelers
The NFL Week 17 schedule will begin on Christmas Day, including when the Kansas City Chiefs visit the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium for a 1 p.m. ET showdown.
Wednesday's game marks a quick turnaround for the Chiefs, who are coming off Saturday's hard-fought 27-19 win over the Houston Texans. Although the Steelers are coming off back-to-back losses, Mike Tomlin & Co. shouldn't be underestimated — especially in front of a rowdy Steel City crowd.
Oddsmakers do like the Chiefs' odds heading into the Christmas action, however, winning will be harder judging by the team's latest injury news.
Chiefs Injury News: DT Chris Jones Misses Monday's Practice
Chiefs insider Pete Sweeney is reporting that defensive tackle Chris Jones didn't practice on Monday due to a calf injury. With only two days to go until Christmas Day, the five-time Pro Bowl defender's chances of suiting up against the Steelers seem like a long shot.
#Chiefs Chris Jones (calf), D.J. Humphries (hamstring) and Chamarri Conner (concussion) will not practice on Monday.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) December 23, 2024
On Saturday, the Chiefs revealed that Jones had strained his calf during the victory over the Texans. He potentially would be able to suit up if the looming Week 17 tilt took place on Sunday, however, the rapid turnaround could see him sidelined come Wednesday.
Even though being without Jones against the Steelers will sting, it's a tough pill that the Chiefs should seriously consider swallowing. After all, it's in head coach Andy Reid's best interest to ensure that the 30-year-old veteran is as healthy as possible before Kansas City pursues a third consecutive Super Bowl win in the playoffs.
Jones' production is somewhat down this year after signing a four-year, $158.75 million contract with the Chiefs in the offseason. The former 2016 second-rounder has 19 solo tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble through 15 appearances this campaign.
Having said that, box score stats don't always tell the whole story. Jones is still being double-teamed on a weekly basis while his 89.7 defense grade on Pro Football Focus is the second-best among all interior defenders.
Despite Jones potentially missing Wednesday's action, Kansas City's near future still looks bright. After all, the Chiefs are currently the 2.5-point road favorites over the Steelers at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Whether or not those odds shift based on Jones' status remains to be seen.
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