Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday that All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones is not communicating with the Kansas City Chiefs during a holdout, and said he could sit out until Week 8 of the NFL season due to the contract dispute.

When asked if he thinks Jones will start this season, Reid said: “There has been no communication, so I don’t know … Whatever happens, happens. If he’s not there, the game goes on. That’s how it works.”

After an X (Twitter) poster asked when he plans to reunite with the Chiefs, Jones cryptically tweeted that he will potentially return midseason for the 2023 campaign in response, saying: ‘Week 8.’ Jones is set to make $19.5 million in base salary in 2023, after signing a 4-year, $80 million contract extension in 2020. The 29-year-old defensive tackle did not report to training camp with teammates and skipped mandatory minicamp. Jones is subject to a $50,000 fine for every missed training camp practice. He could lose about $7.5 million if he skips seven regular season weeks.

Coach Reid noted that Jones and Chiefs executives should resume negotiations so that he can return: “They have to communicate and do their thing .. There has just been no communication.” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes spoke out on Wednesday at training camp, saying he expected Jones to be back: “I don’t think anyone expected him not to be here now, but that’s part of the contract negotiation stuff. I’m not looking down on him for anything like that. He has stuff that he’s trying to get done that he feels like he needs to get done right now. I respect his decision.” Mahomes called Jones a “vital part” of the Chiefs organization.

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