Reid backs his star defensive tackle amid a struggling season, emphasizing collective improvement and a return to elite play.
The 2025 season hasn’t been spectacular for the Kansas City Chiefs, especially considering their run of dominance in the past decade. Sitting at a not-so-impressive record of 5-4 after their bye week, the Chiefs have a limited amount of time to make things right.
One of the issues for Kansas City this season has been the lack of dominance on the defensive line. In years past, tackle Chris Jones has been a player who’s been impossible to stop. He was named to an All-Pro team in six of his last seven seasons and has made six straight Pro Bowls. Consistently a threat for the Defensive Player of the Year award, Chiefs fans expected much of the same from Jones this season.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been that for Jones. He has recorded just two sacks in nine games into the season, a stark contrast from what fans had gotten used to in recent years. The sacks are one thing, but he has also failed to tally many pressures on quarterbacks this season.
In the last three games, he’s recorded just two pressures. Opposing offensive lines have certainly worked to take Jones out of their game with their blocking schemes, but it has absolutely killed the Chiefs’ defensive line.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was asked earlier in the week about the lack of impact from Jones, but said that it isn’t just him that needs to improve.
"I think we all need to do better, I would say that," Reid said. "Chris is always striving to do better every day. That's what has made him such a good player. Again, he's the guy that they're going to focus on, and if you're getting a double team, that's who's getting doubled. He'll get his as we go forward, it's just important that he stays consistent and keeps working hard."
Kansas City failed to bolster the defensive line ahead of the trade deadline, so it’ll be up to Jones and the other guys already there, like George Karlaftis and Mike Pennel, to make the difference themselves.
With no help coming in, the Chiefs need Jones to return to his All-Pro levels immediately if they want the best chance at making another postseason run.