As all 32 teams in the NFL work to get their rosters down to the maximum of 53 players to start the upcoming season, the Kansas City Chiefs continue to be faced with a serious dilemma that could impact the team on the defensive side of the football during the 2023 campaign.
The Chiefs are still without arguably their best player on defense, with star defensive tackle Chris Jones holding out for a better contract, which has gone on much longer than anticipated.
On Tuesday, due to Jones continuing to holdout, the Chiefs placed the All-Pro on the reserve/Did Not Report list, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The #Chiefs have officially placed star DT Chris Jones on the reserve/Did Not Report list. His holdout continues.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2023
Obviously, this isn’t great news for the Chiefs, who have never been known for elite play on the defensive side of the football during the Patrick Mahomes era in Kansas City.
The Chiefs have been incredibly successful over the past few years due to Mahomes’ play under center and the high-powered offense that can put points on the board seemingly at will, especially with future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce still in his prime and catching passes from the league’s best quarterback.
However, Jones makes the defense formidable for the Chiefs, and it could be argued that without him on the field, Kansas City could really struggle in that area to start the 2023 NFL season.
That said, it is a little surprising the holdout has been dragging out this long, as he is clearly essential to the team’s success moving forward and a player they don’t want to let slip out of their hands.
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