Chandler Jones is entering his second season as a Las Vegas Raider, and he couldn't feel more encouraged about what's ahead for him.
Having suffered a season-ending elbow injury last Christmas against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the veteran pass rusher was forced to focus his offseason on recovery.
"With that injury, it's a little hard to work out and lift," Jones told media members on Thursday, "so I went through a whole rehab process, and as I was rehabbing, I took my time opposed to just jumping on the 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 kind of just shed the leaves off the tree and then growing them back on."
For Jones, though, the rehab process could also serve as a blessing going forward.
"I feel like when it comes to injuries at this sport, most players that go through injuries, they kind of have a better season going it because they take that rehab process and it goes into their workout, their training process," Jones said. " ... But we'll see what happens. But my rehab went very well. Elbow feels fine."
Jones posted 38 tackles, three for losses, 4.5 sacks, three passes defensed, a forced fumble and -- you may remember -- a touchdown last season.
This upcoming season will be Jones' 12th.
The veteran played the first four years of his NFL career with the New England Patriots while Raiders Head Coach Josh McDaniels was in his second stint as the offensive coordinator.
The Raiders' offseason workout schedule is as follows:
OTA Offseason workouts: May 22-23, May 25, May 31-June 2, June 12-15
Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8
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