Travis Kelce, the Chiefs' star tight end, expressed his growing concern over teammate Chris Jones' ongoing holdout as the start of the regular season loomed just days away. Jones, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, had been absent throughout training camp in his quest for a new contract. Kelce, speaking on the “New Heights” podcast alongside his brother Jason, who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, pleaded with Jones to return to the Chiefs. "Chris, can you please come back? You're really scaring me," Kelce said, highlighting his desire to win another Super Bowl with his teammate. "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."

Jones, who is widely regarded as one of the best defensive players in the NFL, is set to earn $19.5 million this season. However, he seeks a contract that places him somewhere between the highest-paid defensive tackles, Aaron Donald ($30 million) and Quinnen Williams ($26 million). Despite his impressive contributions, including 15.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 29 quarterback hits during the regular season, Jones' holdout has cast a shadow over the Chiefs' defending Super Bowl champion status. According to ESPN Next Gen Stats, the Chiefs' defense boasted an NFL-best 35 percent quarterback pressure rate with Jones on the field over the past five years. Without him, that figure dropped to a dismal 27 percent, ranking 28th in the league.

Kelce, recognizing Jones' value to the team, declared him the best defensive player in the league. "He's deserving of all the money in the world," Kelce emphatically stated. However, Jones' standoff with the Chiefs shows no signs of resolution. In the final year of his four-year, $80 million contract, Jones is determined to secure a new deal before the season concludes. He has even expressed willingness to miss a significant portion of the season.

The Chiefs have imposed hefty fines of $50,000 per day of missed camp on Jones, adding to the mounting tension between the franchise and their star defensive lineman. Although Jason Kelce jokingly encouraged Jones to hold out for as long as possible, given the upcoming Week 10 matchup between the Eagles and Chiefs, Travis Kelce expressed the urgency of Jones' return, emphasizing the impact his absence has on the team.

As the regular season draws near, the Chiefs find themselves at a standstill with Jones, their defensive linchpin. While Travis Kelce voices his worry and implores Jones to end the holdout, the Chiefs' Super Bowl aspirations and their defensive prowess are under threat without the presence of their star defensive lineman.