Chiefs Star Clearly Not Past Recent Injury Yet Despite Practice Return

Chiefs star DT Chris Jones returned to practice on Wednesday but is still clearly feeling the effects of the groin injury he suffered on Sunday.

Jones was spotted working with the conditioning team and athletic trainers following the individual and install portions of practice. It's not unusual by any means, though does indicate he's not quite 100% healthy.

Considering the potential lingering impact of groin injuries, Jones' status is a situation to monitor moving forward.

Chiefs News: Chris Jones Still Dealing With Injury at Practice

Chiefs fans should not be overly concerned about the five-time All-Pro. Andy Reid and the coaching staff are wisely being careful with their defensive centerpiece, and Jones proved in 2023 that he doesn't need training camp to have a monster season.

However, last year's absence was due to a contract holdout. Jones has been remarkably durable throughout his eight-year career despite playing a grueling position. He just turned 30 years old in early July, so the team needs to be smart about handling his workload prior to the season.

Jones is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate and a one-man wrecking crew single-handedly capable of decimating opposing offenses. You can point to numerous examples over this dynastic run of him putting timely pressure on a quarterback to blow up a play, including against both the Bills and 49ers in last year's playoffs.

He makes everyone around him better, and it's no wonder the Chiefs consistently have one of the NFL's best defensive lines. Kansas City needs Jones on the field, and his continued good health is critical if this defense is going to rank among the league's elite once again.

For now, Jones seems okay. He's back at practice, unlike veteran S Justin Reid, indicating the organization believes it's just a minor issue.

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