A 33-year-old in his 12th NFL season and second with the Raiders, Jones began his note by writing, “First day out.” That suggestion he had been released from the facility was followed later in the note by Jones saying he was “stuck here.”
The former New England Patriot and Arizona Cardinal expressed uncertainty about who may have ordered his alleged removal and placement in a behavioral health center.
“All I know is whoever put me in here had bad intentions,” he wrote.
Jones did not play in Las Vegas’s first two games this season, then was placed by the team on the reserve/non-football illness list, meaning he will be sidelined until at least Week 7. He reportedly has been away from the team since shortly before the season began, when he shared and deleted social media posts in which he said he no longer wanted to play for Raiders Coach Josh McDaniels and General Manager Dave Ziegler.
Jones wrote Monday that he called Ziegler “6 or 7 times asking for help” but didn’t hear back. He added that he was “just trying to figure out why I’m not allowed in the building still and why do I have to continue to watch my brothers suffer every Sunday.”
A spokesman for the Raiders did not respond immediately Tuesday to a request for comment and possible confirmation of Jones’s whereabouts. The team has previously described the situation as a “private matter” that will be handled internally.
Jones wrote that his brothers have had to come to the facility to bring him clothing and “decent” meals, and that his father has also been visiting him. Jones’s siblings include former NFL defensive end Arthur Jones and UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Jones joined Las Vegas in March 2022 after agreeing to a three-year, $51 million contract with $32 million in guarantees. Over 15 games last season, he notched 4.5 sacks, the lowest total of his career for any season in which he played at least 10 games.
“I’m still confused on what I did wrong,” Jones wrote Monday. “I’m stuck here. I’m very sane. … I’m to strong of a person to be mentally broken.”
