Chandler Jones Injury: Updates on Patriots DE's Hip and Return

Updates from Sunday, Dec. 14

The Patriots confirmed Jones is active for Week 15:

Updates from Sunday, Dec. 7

Chandler Jones is inactive in Week 14 against the San Diego Chargers confirms the Patriots:

Updates from Thursday, Dec. 4

Chandler Jones talked about his injury with Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald:

Updates from Wednesday, Dec. 3

Chandler Jones was officially back on the practice field Wednesday according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald: 

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Chandler Jones actively participated in an early agility drill today duringthe Patriots' first practice at the University of San Diego.

Jones leaped over a couple bags and bent down to pick up a fumbled football in a fundamental drill for the defensive linemen. Jones returned to practice last week but has missed all five games since injuring his hip in Week 7.

 

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Updates from Sunday, Nov. 30

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the pregame expectation for Chandler Jones' status for Week 13:

Updates From Friday, Nov. 28

Doug Kyed of NESN has an update on Chandler Jones' status for Sunday: 

Phil Perry of CSNNE.com has an update on Jones' status:

Perry also reported Bill Belichick's comments on the linebacker's status:

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"There’s no leapfrog where you jump like four or five steps in the process," Belichick explained. "Each day, what the medical department says, he goes out there and does a little bit more than he did the day before and if he feels good and there’s no setbacks, then we bump it up to the next level. If he doesn’t, then we stay the same or maybe back it down for a day and try again. That’s just normal rehab for every player. I mean, the rehab is different but the process is really the same."

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Updates from Wednesday, Nov. 26

Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald has an update on Chandler Jones' status at practice on Wednesday:

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Defensive end Chandler Jones appeared at today's walkthrough as the Patriots began their preparation for Sunday's game against the Packers.

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However, Howe noted that Jones' presence didn't mean much for Sunday's status:

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Today's attendance does not mean Jones is ready to play. Last week, Dominique Easley and Sealver Siliga were at last week's opening walkthrough but did not participate in any additional practices or play in Sunday's game. 

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Updates from Sunday, Nov. 23

The Patriots announced Chandler Jones would not play in Week 12:

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 16

Mike Reiss of ESPN reported on Chandler Jones' status from Week 11:

Updates from Wednesday, Nov. 12

Doug Kyed of NESN reported on Chandler Jones from Patriots practice:

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 26

As expected, the Patriots confirm Chandler Jones is inactive for Week 8:

Updates from Saturday, Oct. 25

Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald has an update on Chandler Jones' status:

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 The Patriots are fearing the worst for defensive end Chandler Jones.

The team’s most dominant pass rusher suffered a hip injury in Week 7 against the Jets, and the Patriots fear a worst-case scenario that could keep Jones out of the lineup for the rest of the regular season, according to a source. Best case, Jones will be out six weeks from the point of the injury, but they were not optimistic about the short end of the timetable upon the initial diagnosis.

If Jones could return after six weeks, it’s possible he could play as early as Week 13 against the Packers because the injury occurred on a Thursday night. But with the extent of the injury, those around Jones have already discussed the possibility that his regular season could be washed out, according to the source.

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Updates from Friday, Oct. 24

Doug Kyed of NESN.com has an update on Chandler Jones:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 23

Chandler Jones' practice status for Thursday was confirmed by Doug Kyed of NESN.com:

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Chandler Jones’ injured hip continues to keep the New England Patriots defensive end out of practice. Jones was the lone Patriots player held out Thursday. The team’s full-pads session was held in the Dana-Farber Field House because of wind and rain.

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Original Text

The New England Patriots will likely be without Chandler Jones for the foreseeable future.

Shalise Manza Young of The Boston Globe reported that the defensive end picked up a hip injury and could potentially miss around a month:

Through the first seven weeks of the 2014 regular season, Jones has 26 combined tackles and 4.5 sacks, which leads the team. His absence will be felt on the Patriots defensive line. ESPN.com's Christopher Harris believes the 24-year-old is the only consistent pass-rushing presence in the New England defense:

Jones has also been a workhorse, especially against the New York Jets, when he appeared in all but three of his team's defensive snaps, per The Boston Globe's Ben Volin:

In September, Pats head coach Bill Belichick also praised Jones' strength in pass coverage.

"Some players are better going forward than backward in coverage," he said, per John Powers of The Boston Globe. "Some guys are probably better in coverage than they are going forward rushing the passer and playing the run. Some guys are pretty good at both and I would put Chandler in that category."

Likely aware of severity of Jones' injury, the Patriots reportedly traded for linebacker Akeem Ayers from the Tennessee Titans, per Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean:

The former second-round draft pick has played in two games this year, picking up three tackles. He has 232 combined tackles and nine sacks through his four-year career.

Ayers and the Jones-less Patriots defense will be put to the test early, with the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions all to come before the end of November.