One of the Chiefs’ biggest stars was notably absent on Tuesday for the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp: defensive tackle Chris Jones.
The four-time Pro Bowler is still under contract with the Chiefs, meaning he could be fined up to $98,753 if his absence isn’t excused, per ESPN. No one on Kansas City’s staff has explained why Jones was not present on Tuesday.
Jones has been wanting a contract extension this offseason, and a deal still hasn’t come. He is currently entering the final year of a four-year, $80 million contract that makes him the eighth-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2024 if an extension is not agreed upon before then.
General manager Brett Veach spoke about Jones’s contract extension last month to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, saying that it was “on the list of things to do.” The original plan was to figure a deal out before training camp began, Veach noted.
After the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in February, Jones—who finished the 2022 season with 15.5 sacks, tied for fourth in the league—tweeted that he is a “Chief for life” and that he didn’t want to play for another franchise. However, it’s unknown if he still feels that way on Tuesday without a deal in place.
