Kansas City Chiefs fans were on edge Sunday as pass rusher Chris Jones made a dramatic return to Arrowhead Stadium after attending a personal family matter.
The veteran defensive star had been listed on the injury report under the “non-injury related/personal” category after flying to Mississippi for his aunt’s funeral.
Late Arrival Sparks Concern
Jones’ flight back to Missouri was scheduled to land around 2:40pm local time, just 30 minutes before kickoff against the Baltimore Ravens.
Fans were understandably worried about whether he would make it in time.
True to form, the 31-year-old defensive powerhouse arrived roughly 25 minutes before the game, looking sharp in a black suit, black tie, and white button-down shirt, ready to step onto the field.
Jones’ Season So Far
It’s been a slow start to the season for Jones, who is in his tenth NFL campaign.
Across the first three games, he has recorded one sack, three tackles for loss, and five total tackles—numbers that are on pace to be his lowest since 2016.
His sack total, so far, mirrors last season’s output of five sacks.
Chiefs Struggle Early in the Season
The defending AFC Champions have stumbled to start the year.
Losses in Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers and at home to the Philadelphia Eagles put them behind schedule.
Last week, they finally secured their first win—a convincing 22-9 victory over the New York Giants in the Meadowlands.
Ravens’ Rocky Start Mirrors Chiefs’
The Baltimore Ravens haven’t fared much better.
After a heart-stopping 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills in their opener, the Ravens defeated the Cleveland Browns but then fell at home to the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.
High Stakes for Sunday’s Showdown
Sunday’s matchup between the Chiefs and Ravens was crucial for both teams.
With two of the early Super Bowl favorites squaring off, the winner would avoid starting the season 1-3 and regain some momentum for the challenging season ahead.