Shannon Sharpe believes Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs could lose to the Lions in the season opener without Chris Jones
The Detroit Lions have the opportunity to beat the Kansas City Chiefs, believes Sharpe.
Snap from Detroit Lions game (L). Shannon Sharpe (Middle) and Patrick Mahomes (R) (Image via Imago)
The 2023 NFL season is yet to begin in two days. In the first game of week one, the Kansas City Chiefs will face the Detroit Lions. The defending champions are clearly the favorites. However, some analysts have a high suspicion that the team won’t be able to beat the Detroit Lions as the team is having problems with Chris Jones.
Among others, Shannon Sharpe believes that the Chiefs will struggle to beat the Lions if Jones does not make himself available before the game. Jones is the defensive tackle (DT) for the Chiefs and had a brilliant season in 2022.
“Chris Jones is one of the best defensive players in all of football. He was the number one defensive interior alignment last year. He finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year rating. He is the one guy that you have to do anything special for and he can go get your quarterback,” he said.
“Now the big defensive acquisition they made he is suspended for the first six games. So now your two best defensive players, two guys you are counting on to get the quarterbacks to the ground won’t be there. And we know that got them in trouble in the previous years when they did not get to the Super Bowl. So now, without Chris Jones, you got to pay him. If you want any hope if you want any chance of repeating Chris Jones has to be on this roster,” the analyst added.
Not only that, Sharpe also praised the attacking intent of the Detroit Lions. He said that the Lions under the leadership of Jared Goff can be an offensive threat to the Lions.
Also Read: Chiefs’ HC Andy Reid gives ICY response on Chris Jones’ holdout, trusts GM Brett Veach to handle negotiations
What is the mess with Chris Jones?
After the brilliant 2022 season, Jones was expected to have a fantastic start in 2023. However, in reality, things went in the opposite direction. The DT is in a mess with his club regarding the contract extension. He wants a long-term contract with more money.
However, the negotiations are not going in the right direction and the player has excluded himself from the team’s practice. He also did not play in the preseason and no one knows when he is going to join. In addition to this, speculations are also going on that he can join the Dallas Cowboys. His Twitter activities triggered controversies.
Meanwhile, Andy Reid, the head coach of the Chiefs, seemed frustrated with the matter. In a press conference, he expressed his disappointment over the situation.
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Gerard Crispin
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