One of the most productive players on the Kansas City Chiefs defense, Chris Jones, has a huge opportunity to make his presence felt in 2022.
The new-look squad has seen an infusion of young talent at every phase, but especially on the defensive side of the ball. With some time to form a cohesive unit, this defense could become a menace against opposing offenses. Jones spoke to reporters on Monday about his evolving role as a leader with so many fresh faces in the mix defensively.
“I have a mission here,” Jones explained. “Especially when stepping on this practice field, our mission is to get better, one percent better every day. It’s a balance. You can come out here and have fun but make sure that you’re doing it to your highest capability on this field. Making sure you’re leading guys as an example. I take that personal, especially when I’m stepping on the field.”
He went on to tell the media about the change in identity that the defense is undertaking, speaking to a “grit” that he hopes will make a difference for Kansas City this season.
“[We’re] Just being gritty man, being gritty,” he said. “I think we left a lot of opportunities last year, our last game of the season, on the field. We were able to make a few changes in the defensive line room, bring my brother (Frank Clark) back and a lot of familiar faces back. I think this year, it’s about being gritty. Stopping the run, stopping the pass and doing whatever we can to help this defense out.”
After years of defensive mediocrity, the Chiefs are set to take the field in 2022 with a motivated bunch of underdogs opposite Patrick Mahomes and the offense. If their efforts in camp pay off, the one-two punch the team brings to the table could be enough to deliver them another Lombardi Trophy in February.
