*Chris Jones – Noteworthy
DE Chris Jones was ejected from the Chiefs’ win over Jacksonville.
Jones picked up his disqualification for delivering a punch to a Jaguars player following an extra-point kick with 3 minutes, 10 seconds left in the third quarter. Officials assessed Jones with an unnecessary roughness penalty. But replay officials reviewed the play to determine if Jones threw a punch. They ruled he did, ordering the disqualification.
“The intensity was great,” Jones said. “We got a little chirping in and got a whole lot of aggression in. But the intensity, the effort and the toughness the defense played with, I’m just proud of my guys.”
While head coach Andy Reid wasn’t happy, he did like to see the fire his team displayed in the contest.
“When two good football teams play each other, you can’t let the emotions get to you,” Reid said. “This is a team that’s going to come in and try to be physical with you and push you around in your own place, so you can’t do that either.”
Armani Watts – Noteworthy – Injury
S Armani Watts, a rookie, stepped in for injured Eric Murray but left the game with a groin injury shortly afterwards. Watts aggravated an injury he sustained in practice on Thursday; he entered Sunday’s game as questionable.
The injuries at safety seriously tested the team’s depth in the secondary. Jordan Lucas, acquired in a trade from Miami just prior to the start of the season, stepped in for Murray and Watts and delivered his first career interception.
“(Lucas) steps in, he’s been playing special teams for us,” Reid said. “He steps in and gets an interception, which is a great deal.”
The Chiefs have been without expected starting safeties Eric Berry and Daniel Sorensen for the first five games of the season. Lucas finished the game alongside Ron Parker in the backend of the secondary. Neither player appeared on the team’s roster until after the club’s final preseason game.
“Our safeties, I’m not sure you want to play safety for us,” Reid said. “It’s a rough position right now. We’re down to about our sixth safety.”
The Chiefs signed free agent safety Josh Shaw on Tuesday to add additional depth at safety. He was not active on Sunday, however.
Dee Ford – Noteworthy
LB Dee Ford was ejected from the Chiefs’ win over Jacksonville.
Ford picked up an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty for a late hit on Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles just before the end of the first half. Midway through the fourth quarter, officials flagged him for taunting after he stood over Bortles at the end of a play along the sideline. The second personal-conduct penalty resulted in an automatic ejection.
Ford did not speak to reporters after the game.
While head coach Andy Reid wasn’t happy, he did like to see the fire his team displayed in the contest.
“When two good football teams play each other, you can’t let the emotions get to you,” Reid said. “This is a team that’s going to come in and try to be physical with you and push you around in your own place, so you can’t do that either.”
Eric Murray – Noteworthy – Injury
S Eric Murray exited Sunday’s game in the first half with what the team termed a lower left injury. His backup, rookie Armani Watts, left the game with a groin injury shortly afterwards. Watts aggravated an injury he sustained in practice on Thursday; he entered Sunday’s game as questionable.
The injuries at safety seriously tested the team’s depth in the secondary. Jordan Lucas, acquired in a trade from Miami just prior to the start of the season, stepped in for Murray and Watts and delivered his first career interception.
“(Lucas) steps in, he’s been playing special teams for us,” Reid said. “He steps in and gets an interception, which is a great deal.”
The Chiefs have been without expected starting safeties Eric Berry and Daniel Sorensen for the first five games of the season. Lucas finished the game alongside Ron Parker in the backend of the secondary. Neither player appeared on the team’s roster until after the club’s final preseason game.
“Our safeties, I’m not sure you want to play safety for us,” Reid said. “It’s a rough position right now. We’re down to about our sixth safety.”
The Chiefs signed free agent safety Josh Shaw on Tuesday to add additional depth at safety. He was not active on Sunday, however.
Justin Houston – Noteworthy – Injury
LB Justin Houston left the game in the first half with a hamstring injury. The club initially ruled him questionable to return before downgrading him to out. Coach Andy Reid didn’t offer any timetable on Houston’s expected recovery.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – Noteworthy – Injury
RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif went down with a left knee injury late in the fourth quarter. A Jacksonville player fell on his left knee from behind. Duvernay-Tardif suffered a fractured fibula, but head coach Andy Reid hopes he can return later this season.
“(It’s) a non-weight bearing bone that’s going to take a little bit of time but not too long,” Reid said. “He won’t be done for the year, which is a positive.”
Patrick Mahomes – Noteworthy
QB Patrick Mahomes, who entered the week leading the league with 14 touchdown passes, tossed two interceptions with no scores while completing 22-of-38 passes for 313 yards. The turnovers marked the first interceptions on the season for the quarterback.
Andy Reid thought Mahomes answered the question of how he might handle adversity after ripping through the league during the first four games of the season.
“It didn’t even faze him, man, he just kept going and kept firing, made some big plays,” Reid said. “You’re going to throw those when you’re a quarterback in the National Football. How you react to it becomes very important, and I thought he handled that well.”