Chandler Jones lashes out at Raiders on Instagram account

Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones lashed out at the team on social media Tuesday, but almost as quickly as he posted some early-morning complaints on his Instagram account, they were deleted.

The result was a long, confusing day during which neither the Raiders nor people close to Jones offered any clarity on what is going on between the club and their veteran pass rusher.

The saga began with a series of angry posts from Jones on his Instagram account. His primary complaint was that the Raiders had locked him out of their facility, forcing him to work out at a local gym, and that he could not get coach Josh McDaniels or general manager Dave Ziegler on the phone.

Among the series of posts, it was written: “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.”

He also posted that he doesn’t want to play for the Raiders if McDaniels and Ziegler are running the team, and would prefer defensive coordinator Patrick Graham as the head coach.

Neither the Raiders nor Jones’ agent responded to multiple requests for comment. And after the posts were deleted, neither Jones nor anyone close to him indicated his Instagram account had been hacked or that he was simply joking around.

The lack of response from both sides casts questions about where things stand between Jones and the Raiders. And with the season opener Sunday at Denver, his status for the game is uncertain.

Jones signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Raiders in March 2022. Among his salary and various roster and restructuring bonuses, his cash payout this season is $17 million.

Jones was a disappointment in his first season with the Raiders, registering just 4.5 sacks. Barring a major turnaround this season, he is most likely in his final year with the Raiders, as his guarantees will be paid in full after the season.

The Raiders did release their first official depth chart Tuesday, and Jones was listed at his normal starting defensive end position.

The Raiders return to practice Wednesday. McDaniels typically addresses the media before the practice.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.