Chandler Jones goes off on social media over dispute with Raiders

Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Chandler Jones ripped the franchise on social media Tuesday after allegedly being denied access into the team’s facility to work out over the weekend.

In the since-deleted Instagram story posts, Jones publicly called out head coach Josh McDaniels, general manager Dave Ziegler and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Jones unfollowed the Raiders and fellow edge rusher/teammate Maxx Crosby on Instagram, per Mitchell Renz of Raiders Report.

THIS IS GETTING UGLY: After posting multiple posts on IG ripping the #Raiders and the team Brass which has since been deleted, 4x Pro Bowl pass rusher Chandler Jones has now UNFOLLOWED the Team and his teammate Maxx Crosby.

😳😳😳

(Via @RaiderCody & @MitchellRenz365) pic.twitter.com/URMtvVoR7w

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 5, 2023

“F— IT. I DON’T WANNA PLAY FOR THE RAIDERS IF THAT’S MY HC, OR GM…I WANT PATRICK GRAHAM IVY LEAGUE N—A,” Jones wrote.

Jones later shared an apparent text exchange with McDaniels.

“It’s a shame that I am a top athlete with 112 sacks in the NFL and I have to go to a local gym to work out during the season for no apparent reason this is wild to me Josh and you know it you need to do what’s right,” Jones wrote.

The Raiders have yet to publicly comment on the matter.

Chandler Jones feeling healthy again after disappointing 2022 season

Jones, 33, is entering the second year of a three-year, $51 million deal he signed with the Raiders in March 2022. In his first season in Las Vegas, Jones compiled 4.5 sacks, 38 tackles (21 solo), 15 quarterback hits and one forced fumble. Three of his sacks came in Week 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers. An elbow injury in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers ended his season.

“I’m little lighter this year, I feel a little faster, a little bit stronger, but I’m just trying to perfect my craft,” Jones said during voluntary OTAs in June. “As I was rehabbing, I kind of took my time, as opposed to just jumping into weights and trying to gain muscle right away. So, got back healthy, then I started working out, lifting, and that’s where I am. I’m kind of just building muscle right now. So, you kind of just shed the leaves off the tree and then [start] growing them back on.”

He expressed his excitement for the 2023 season Monday on Twitter.

“Can’t wait to play this year! Feelin great in practice!” Jones tweeted.

Jones, originally a first-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2012 NFL Draft (21st overall) out of Syracuse, sits 26th on the all-time sack leaders list with 112.0. Among active players, only the Buffalo Bills’ Von Miller (123.5) and the New Orleans Saints’ Cameron Jordan (115.5) have recorded more.