The Chiefs’ opening week was an eventful one. First, tight end Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee on Sept. 5, sidelining himself for the season opener against the Lions. Then, defensive tackle Chris Jones's holdout dragged on past Thursday, depriving Kansas City of its best defensive player.
The result of those absences: a 21–20 Detroit victory before a national television audience as the Chiefs scuffled at times on both sides of the ball.
Now, Kelce and Jones are both back in the fold, tentatively expected to play Kansas City’s second game of the year against the Jaguars Sunday. Jones agreed to a one-year, $25 million contract with the Chiefs for the 2023 season.
In footage from Wednesday afternoon’s practice captured by KSHB-TV in Kansas City, Kelce was shown playfully mobbing Jones, who responded by hugging his longtime teammate.
Travis Kelce (knee) and Chris Jones back together on the #Chiefs practice field today @KSHB41 pic.twitter.com/TdW6h3zZg4
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) September 13, 2023
Kelce and Jones are in their eighth season as teammates, and have won two Super Bowls together with Kansas City after the 2019 and 2022 seasons.
As Jones’s holdout dragged on, Kelce publicly expressed concern about the situation, asking the All-Pro defender to “please come back” on an episode of his podcast New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce.
