Chiefs vs. Bucs: Ronald Jones feels like a longshot to play in Week 4

Former Tampa Bay running back Ronald Jones doesn’t feel like he’s going to get a real shot at playing his former team with the Chiefs in Week 4.

Ronald Jones likely had this date circled on his calendar from the moment he saw the official schedule for the Kansas City Chiefs back in the spring. For the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back, it presented him with a chance to return to his former home stadium and show them what he’s capable of.

Unfortunately for Jones, nothing has played out as he (assumedly) hoped so far in his stint with the Chiefs, and it looks like his Week 4 hopes might be dashed as well if things continue as they are.

So far this season, Jones has been relegated to the Chiefs practice squad as Andy Reid has chosen to roll with three other running backs for the first three games of the season. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the lead back in what is largely a committee approach that features Jerick McKinnon and rookie back Isiah Pacheco. Through the first two games of the year, the trio looked like the best choices, but a lackluster day of running the football in Indianapolis in Week 3 might have shaken things up.

Yet if the Chiefs were hoping to give Jones some motivational carries against his former team, the frustration comes in the fact that he’s missed practice with an illness all week long. In other words, instead of getting into game shape for the first time this season, Jones is dealing with a serious illness that has kept him out of practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. That cannot bode well for his chances, making him a likely longshot for Sunday night.

Beyond Jones being out for the Chiefs, the team does have Harrison Butker back in a limited capacity in practice on Thursday. Mike Danna could also be on the mend after missing Week 3 with a calf injury.