Travis Kelce raises concern as Chris Jones holdout nears Week 1 - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Kelce made a plea to Chris Jones to return to the Chiefs on his latest podcast, saying of his teammate's decision to holdout, «I just don't get it.»

«Chris, can you please come back?» Kelce said on the New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce podcast, which he appears on regularly along with his brother, who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. «You're really scaring me, man. I don't get it. You must know something that I don't know because I just don't get it. I really want to get another Super Bowl ring with you, brother. This is me bargaining you to just come back and play football for the Chiefs. Please, we need you. We need you bad, and I don't know what the situation is.

»He's just the best defensive player in the league right now. He's deserving of all the money in the world. Chris, I love you. Please come back now."

Jones has one season left on the four-year deal he signed with the Chiefs in 2020 but has yet to report as he seeks an improved contract. Jones was to be paid $80 million over the four years, and the $20 million average would make him the ninth-highest-paid defensive tackle this season.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he wouldn't criticize Jones' decision.

«Chris has chosen to go this route,» Reid said Friday in his first expansive comments on Jones' holdout. «Some other guys have chosen to get their deals done and come in and play. I'm not here to criticize one way or the other. We've had a lot of success with the guys that we have and we go with it.

»Other than that, I take the distractions and throw them out the door and let's get on with what's real."

Reid's comments seem to indicate the Chiefs are preparing to play their season opener Thursday against the Detroit Lions without