He missed the final 11 games of 2020 due to injury.
Entering a contract year and without an extension in hand, he looked determined to get back to his old self.
After playing just five games in 2020 due to a torn biceps, Arizona Cardinals All-Pro pass-rusher Chandler Jones did just that in a 38-13 win over the Tennessee Titans.
He made an early impact on the second Titans possession of the season opener, forcing a strip-sack fumble on Tennessee quarterback Ryan Tannehill midway through the first quarter Sunday.
Jones was not done there.
After recording a single sack through five games in 2020, he finished the first quarter of the 2021 season with three on the Titans.
By the fourth quarter, he’d tied the franchise single-game sack record of five; that was set last year by now-Carolina Panthers linebacker Haason Reddick.
In the third quarter, Jones added a second forced fumble on Tannehill. And then after his fifth sack, he was making it about the money.
Chandler Jones with his 5th SACK TODAY
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/I95R3Sxk5Z
— Overtime (@overtime) September 12, 2021
Arizona already led 3-0 when Jones recorded his first sack of the day, punching out the ball from Tannehill. Cardinals nose tackle Corey Peters scooped it up and dove for the end zone in what appeared to be a touchdown.
Touchdown or Not, @chanjones55 is a PROBLEM
pic.twitter.com/P3STX7DkPz
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 12, 2021
A replay review overturned the Peters score as his knee hit turf before the ball broke the plane of the end zone.
Though the Cardinals backed themselves up with their fourth penalty in just two offensive possessions, quarterback Kyler Murray found receiver DeAndre Hopkins in the back of the end zone for a five-yard score on third down to give Arizona a 10-0 lead with 8:11 remaining in the first quarter.