Rookie cornerback Nic Jones got his first taste of the spotlight at the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice session on Tuesday when he intercepted quarterback Patrick Mahomes during seven-on-seven drills.
Mahomes made a great effort to chase Jones to the boundary after the errant pass, but the rookie seemed to find an extra gear to accelerate to the edge of the field and may have found the endzone if the play hadn’t been whistled dead.
Nic Jones picks off Mahomes during 7-on-7 pic.twitter.com/bThappXiOr
— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) July 25, 2023
Jones will face an uphill battle to get consistent playing time in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system as a seventh-round pick, but plays like this should move the needle as the coaching staff assesses their options in the secondary.
His exceptional ball skills were a key factor in the Chiefs’ decision to draft him back in April, and with more repetitions in drills at training camp, Jones could turn a corner heading into the preseason as he looks to justify his spot on Kansas City’s 53-man roster.