Chiefs' Chris Jones uses age factor to request skip from training camp: "I'm a little older"

Chiefs' defensive star Chris Jones has revealed that he is speaking with Andy Reid to reduce his practice time in training camp on account of his advancing age. The defensive tackle will be 30 in July and he is clearly feeling it in his joints.

Jones signed a fresh long-term contract with Kansas City in March, right after playing a pivotal part in their successful Super Bowl run. That requires him to present at training camp beginning in a few weeks.

However, The Kansas City Star reported that he has been discussing the possibility of skipping a few practice sessions with his head coach. Chris Jones said,

“Listen man, I’ve already been talking to Andy about, ‘Let me skip out on training camp. I’m a little older, right?’ I can feel it. I can feel when we have a day on training camp. Give me like two days off and one day on then, and we maybe can work something out, you know?”

Is Chiefs' Chris Jones planning to retire soon?

Chris Jones signed a five-year contract at the beginning of this offseason. It may be whittled down to three years at the team's discretion based on his performance. And if we look at his latest comments, one might think that the lower end of that scale is best considered when discussing his potential retirement.

But earlier this year, he had said that he wants Travis Kelce to play another four to five years and he wants to retire with the tight end. Based on that, he intends to play until around the age of 35.

Therefore, the best way to consider his current comments need not be to say that his body is at a stage where he is contemplating retirement. Rather, he feels that if his workload is managed, then he can give his best on the pitch on gameday and prolong his career.

Andy Reid will have the final say on it but there may be merit to what Chris Jones saying. Last year, he was sitting out of the Chiefs' games even when the season began and he missed the first game as the parties had yet to agree to a contract.

It certainly did not seem to do him any harm as he played some of the best football of his career as the defense carried Kansas City to Super Bowl victory. Perhaps, his training camp regimen should be tailored as per his suggestion.