Chris Jones on track to play more in Super Bowl LIV than in AFC title game

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones strained his calf on Thursday, January 9. It cost him his participation in the team’s Divisional round game against the Houston Texans. that weekend.

The following week, the Chiefs gave Jones Wednesday and Thursday off, then put him on the field for limited reps last Friday ahead of the AFC championship game against the Tennessee Titans.

For the second week in a row, Jones was a game-time decision — but this time, he played. Jones was in the game for 28 defensive snaps — 42 percent — and more importantly for the Chiefs, he came out of the game with no setbacks.

“I think he feels pretty good,” said head coach Andy Reid on Wednesday. “He didn’t have a setback, so that was good. We kept it to that 20-play area right there — which was smart, I think.”

Jones registered two tackles and a quarterback hit in the game.

“Good for him,” added Reid. “And he didn’t wear us out on it — I know he wanted to play and so he didn’t completely beat us up on it every five seconds. But when he got in there, he did some nice things. Initially, we started him on third downs and then he was feeling good, [so] we put him in a couple second-half situations.”

Now with two weeks to rest the injury — and the Chiefs entering the final game of the season in Super Bowl LIV — it is fair to expect that Jones will be a full -go against the San Francisco 49ers.

As for the rest of the Chiefs, they are treating this week in Kansas City as if they are playing this Sunday.

“We’ll take it all the way through to Friday,” said Reid. “Saturday, it’s shut down so they can get everything together to move (to Miami) on Sunday. So we’ll be going, and then we get down there, we’ll practice on Monday, Tuesday — we kind of get back into a normal routine.”

Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was the only Chiefs player to miss practice Wednesday. Reid said he was sick.