Pittsburgh Steelers rookie linebacker Jarvis Jones told the media Monday he would be fine after suffering a chest injury Saturday night when he fell on the football following an interception against the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite feeling better a few days later, however, Jones did not practice on Monday.
“Jarvis Jones appears to be progressing well,” said head coach Mike Tomlin following Monday’s practice. “We’ll monitor him and I’ll have more information at that press conference tomorrow.”
Jones had to be taken from the stadium to the hospital via an ambulance following the game, but Tomlin refused to say that the first-round draft pick avoided a scary situation.
“I wouldn’t necessarily call it scare,” said Tomlin. “We just exercised precaution under the circumstance and wanted to take very good care of him, and we did. He’s going to be fine.”
As for Jones, he refused to say that he has a contusion to his chest during his talk with the media, but did detail what happened on the play he was injured on.
“I’m fine,” started Jones. “It’s just one of those moments. I don’t know if it was a bad technique or anything, but I got tackled from behind, fell on the ball, the dude fell on top of me and knocked the air out of me. Our staff did the precautionary thing by having me go and get it checked out.”
As for Jones possibly being able to play Thursday night in the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, he said Monday that has yet to be determined.
“They’re just going to let me take it day by day and see how it goes,” he said.
It will be a big surprise should Jones play against the Panthers as it would be wise to let him sit this final game out. I think his roster spot is pretty safe at this point.
