Head coach Andy Reid has hinted that the Kansas City Chiefs could move on from defensive tackle Chris Jones, with the 29-year-old still refusing to participate.

Jones is a major part of the Chiefs roster, and with him on the field, they’re the best team in the NFL at putting pressure on the quarterback. Without him, they fall all the way down to 28th, and as a result, Jones is holding out for a big contract extension.

Until he gets what he wants, Jones has gone to drastic measures by skipping team activities and even told a user on Twitter he would sit out until Week 8. Both Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are desperate for him to return, but coach Reid has left it to general manager Brett Veach to sort out.

In the meantime, the Chiefs have to move on, especially as their Week 1 game against the Detroit Lions is now only six days away. It may not be the news that Mahomes, Kelce, or Chiefs fans want to hear, but Reid is already focusing on his replacement.

“As a coach, when the player is not here, then the next guy is up and rolling,” Reid said to the Kansas City Star. “Chris is a great player, but we’ve got other good players that will have to step their game up to fill the role of defensive tackle, defensive end and so on. Everybody just has to play their best, and then you work through it.

“But to think you’re going to fill in for Chris, I mean that’s not what you’re doing. The next man comes up, and you try to utilize his strengths and let him get in there and play. We’ve had success doing that, and so we’ll do it again. I know the guys are excited to get in and play.”

Jones hasn’t been featured on the depth chart due to his current status with the team, meaning Tershawn Wharton, Keondre Coburn and Danny Shelton are all reserve options to take his place. Reid has hinted that Jones could be put right back into the starting line-up though if he decides to return.

“One thing about Chris is he keeps himself in good shape,” Reid added. “I haven’t seen him, but I would anticipate he’d come back in relatively good shape. It’s just kind of working himself into football shape. As long as he’s physically in good shape, you could kind of start working him in and getting him going and you play it by ear and eyes after that and see where he’s at.”

Mahomes and Kelce have both pleaded for Jones to return, as even though they take the majority of the headlines they’re both aware that their Super Bowl success may not have been possible without him. “He’s the best defensive player in the league right now,” Kelce told brother and co-host Jason on their podcast. “He’s deserving of all the money in the world.

“Chris, I love you, please come back. Now. Chris, can you please come back? You’re really scaring me. 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.” Mahomes feels the same way as Kelce, and tried to convince Jones, although he also understands his current position.

“I know that stuff – contract stuff – is hard to talk about because everybody wants to make money for their entire family and everything like that,” Mahomes said. “But I know how much Chris loves the Chiefs. He loves being a part of this organisation. So I just try to stay out of it and tell Chris that I love him and that whenever he does come back, he’ll be welcomed with open arms.

“We know that he’s preparing himself so that whenever he does come back, he’ll be that dominant player that he always has been. I’m not looking down on him for anything like that. He has stuff that he’s trying to get done that he feels he needs to get done right now.

“So, I respect his decision. And whenever he gets back, like I said, we’ll welcome him with open arms. He’s a vital part of this organisation and I’m glad he’s on my team.”