The Patriots have a potential figurative black eye to go along with their coach’s literal one.
Patriots star defensive end Chandler Jones stumbled into a Foxboro police station early Sunday and was described as a “confused party,” according to multiple reports. Jones was taken to a nearby hospital amid what police records described as a medical emergency, according to the Boston Herald.
The details are sketchy, but the officer who went to secure Jones’ nearby home references drugs in his call back to dispatch.
“I got his keys off the kitchen table, I was able to lock the front door,” the cop said. “If you want to just pass along to the fire, he was definitely involved with Class D delta before this happened, just so they know.”
The “class D” reference indicates a section of narcotics that includes marijuana, according to CSNNE. The Boston Globe later Wednesday reported Jones had a bad reaction to a substance he put into his body, and cited a source insisting Jones did not overdose on a drug such as cocaine or heroin.
“Chandler has got a lot of great support in this locker room, and he is a great football player,” receiver Danny Amendola told the Globe. “And I’m excited to see what he does this week.”
The police originally denied any knowledge of the incident because it was a “medical call,” but admitted Jones visited the department after the Herald tracked down the police dispatch records, which had been altered in the intervening two days.
Jones was at practice Monday and Tuesday as the Patriots prepare for their AFC Divisional round matchup with the Chiefs on Saturday, and football observers did not comment on any apparent distress with Jones. The team was predictably mum on the 25-year-old’s situation.
“Chandler Jones was admitted to the hospital on Sunday and released that day,” the team said in a brief statement. “He reported to work on time Monday morning and has participated in all meetings and practices since then.”
Jones ranked fifth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks during the regular season. He is the younger brother of UFC champion Jon Jones, who spent time in rehab last year following a positive test for cocaine.