Chris Jones needs to make a splash in the AFC Championship Game

Whether or not Chris Jones plays, and how well he plays, in the remaining playoffs may mean a lot for his future with the Kansas City Chiefs.

As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for their second consecutive AFC Championship appearance, there will be plenty of storylines and speculation ahead. One situation to monitor will be the health of Pro Bowl defensive lineman Chris Jones and his impact on the upcoming championship game. After all, Jones’ impact during the playoffs this year could mean a lot for his future in red and gold.

Chiefs Kingdom found themselves reeling from news on Sunday afternoon that Jones would not be active for the team’s Divisional Round matchup against the Houston Texans.

Jones is in a contract year and held out until late July hoping to leverage a long-term deal from Kansas City. While both Jones and the Chiefs have publicly expressed wanting to get a deal done, there seems to be a cloud of ambiguity fanning flames of the uncertainty of a long term deal actually being reached.

It is important to consider that the early rumor that Jones injured his calf playing basketball in the team’s locker room was called “comical” according to Sam Mellinger. Mellinger is as reliable as it comes when covering Kansas City sports. While some may have been duped by the rumor, it appears the injury is legitimate and the result of practice. While you can never blame a player for something like this, it is worth noting this tweet from Mellinger:

Jones missed 3 games earlier this season with an injury. He also tore his MCL just two years ago at this time against the Titans. Otherwise, Jones has been a relatively healthy presence for the Kansas City defense.

Jones has been a dominant force for Kansas City as a pass rusher, but his inability to be available for the most important games could become a factor in terms of a long-term deal. He is an excellent player and is certainly beloved by Chiefs Kingdom, but there is still reason to speculate that Jones may not be apart of the organization’s long term plans.

The acquisition of Frank Clark last year and the change in defensive coaching staff (and subsequent scheme) brought questions about Jones’ fit. The season has not provided a clear answer as Jones led the team with 9 sacks but did so while only playing 58% of the defensive snaps. Is it possible that the Chiefs see Jones as a role player and pass-rush specialist? The biggest question on Jones’ resume is his ability to stop the run and he has the ultimate test ahead of him in stopping the Tennessee Titans and Derrick Henry.

Chris Jones will need to show up to the AFC Championship game and make a splash if he wants to earn the type of money he was dreaming of this past July. Jones is an elite interior pass rusher but has endured criticism in the past for his inconsistent play against the run. If Jones is able to anchor the middle of the defense and prove that he can be effective in shutting down the run, the Chiefs may have to open the checkbook a bit wider to keep number 95 in town.

If Jones is unable to play, or if he does play but cannot be relied on to defend against the run, it could make for a tumultuous offseason. It was reported earlier this year that Jones was looking for a deal similar to what Clark received (think $20 million annually). The Chiefs organization held strong and asked Jones to show he belongs, and that came with mixed results. If the discrepancy in how Jones values himself and how the organization values Jones doesn’t close, it’s possible Kansas City could pursue a tag-and-trade situation similar to what they did last year with Dee Ford.

As the AFC Championship game looms, Jones could be looking at his last games as a Kansas City Chief. On the contrary, he could find himself earning the long-term commitment he’s been angling for since last year. If I were a betting man, I’d wager that Chris Jones will show up something fierce against the Titans.

I know that’s what myself and the rest of Chiefs Kingdom are waiting eagerly to see.