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Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff Writer
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders placed defensive end Chandler Jones on the non-football illness list, according to the league’s official transactions wire, as the 11-year veteran continues to work through what has been described as a personal matter.
Jones has been away from the team since Labor Day weekend, when he began a barrage of social media posts aimed at the Raiders in general, owner Mark Davis, general manager Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels in particular, alternately saying that he no longer wanted to play for the team and also wondering why he was not welcomed back.
In a Jones post dated Sept. 6, he claimed the Raiders sent a crisis response team to his home.
Throughout, McDaniels has referred to Jones’ situation as “personal” and private and would not comment, even as Jones’ posts became more frequent and accusatory, claiming at one point that a family friend’s daughter was being abused and the team knew of it.
Over the weekend, Jones claimed his account had been hacked.
Jones was inactive for the Raiders’ first two games, a victory at the Denver Broncos and a loss at the Buffalo Bills, though he was still on the team’s 53-man roster.
His move to the NFI list means he will miss at least the next four games. If he is not activated by the end of his four-week waiting period, he can remain there the rest of the season.
Earlier Wednesday, McDaniels was asked when a resolution might be reached regarding Jones’ roster spot.
“Again, there’s nothing,” McDaniels said. “I can’t do anything about it at this point. So, we’re just respecting that process and understand the situation, and that’s really all I can say about it.”
Two teammates voiced support for Jones.
“Chandler’s our brother, we love him,” defensive end Maxx Crosby said. “For us, we’re focused on winning, focused on the Pittsburgh Steelers. We’re just focused on the day. That’s all we can do.”
“Honestly, in the building, it hasn’t been a distraction at all. All we do is pray for Chandler and his situation or whatever it might be and just wish him the best,” running back Josh Jacobs said. “And it is not something that people take personally or come in and be getting mad or feel like it’s a distraction. It hasn’t been a distraction in this building…just thinking of him and praying for him.”
Jones, 33, is in the second season of a three-year, $51 million free agent contract he signed with Las Vegas. If he returns to the Raiders, he will have to miss at least the next four games — Sunday vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, at the Los Angeles Chargers, and home games against the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots.
Source: www.espn.com