ANALYSIS: Chris Jones held out of practice with a “groin strain”

We were told today that Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman would miss practice with a groin strain.

Obviously, not knowing the severity or location, makes it more difficult to interpret, but since the player finished the game, we can assume it was mild enough for him to play through at least for now.

Soreness can appear post-game, and whether or not imaging was completed can paint a more clear picture. Thigh muscle strains in linemen are certainly less common more so than the skill positions. However, they can be detrimental to performance if lingering issues persist – in defensive linemen, consider drive strength and stability coming off the line as well as lateral movement.

If player improves enough to practice this week, we can assume that the strain is mild enough to not warrant concern going forward. Focus on rehabilitation here will be on hydration (as with all muscle injuries) as well as soft tissue work to ensure adequate muscle length and tonicity.

Continued strength work will ensure that this player will be able to perform the explosive movement off the line that he needs to in order to perform his job. Watch for practice status going forward.