The Las Vegas Raiders defense was expected to improve following their disappointing showing in 2022, but the team had been without veteran defensive end Chandler Jones.
The Raiders decided to have Jones away from the team following his social media outburst, where he alleged the organization refused to let him work out in the facility. He also blasted Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler, saying that he didn’t want to play for a team that they were on.
Jones hasn’t played a snap for Las Vegas this season, as he was placed on the NFL’s non-football injury list late in September. However, the situation has only gotten worse as Jones was arrested this past weekend.
Following news of his arrest, the Raiders announced that they parted ways with Jones via ESPN
“The Las Vegas Raiders released defensive end Chandler Jones on Saturday.”
Jones’ off-field issues mean that Las Vegas won’t be on the hook for the remaining two years of his deal.
“Jones was released because of conduct detrimental to the team, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, meaning the Raiders are no longer responsible for certain financial commitments such as his base salary. Jones was in the second season of a three-year, $51 million contract that he signed last year.”
This is sad and concerning news for Jones, as he has clearly been going through things, given the nature of his online postings. Last week, Jones claimed that he was sent to a hospital against his will and later posted him rambling on a number of topics outside his home.
Raiders fans surely are worried about what’s going on with Jones, though there’s not much they and the organization can do as this seems like a problem for a mental health professional to deal with. The entire ordeal is bizarre as Jones showed no signs of this kind of behavior in the offseason and even said he was feeling better heading into his second season with the Silver and Black.
Hopefully, Jones gets the help he needs, though his future as an NFL player is certainly in question.
Patrick Graham discusses Tyree Wilson’s development
With Jones no longer on the roster, rookie Tyree Wilson is expected to see more snaps now. Through three games, Wilson hasn’t been able to make much of an impact, though defensive coordinator Patrick Graham believes that he is still acclimating to the NFL game.
