Chandler Jones had multiple reasons to want to make the pledge this week that he would donate $20,000 for each sack he collects the final two games of the season to Phoenix Children's Hospital.
His sister was a part of that.
Most people know the Cardinals' defensive end has a brother, Arthur, who was an NFL defensive lineman and another brother, Jon, who is an MMA fighter. But there was also Carmen, the oldest Jones sibling who passed away from a brain tumor just before she turned 18.
"I really think about the kids during the holidays," said Jones, the youngest in the family. "I had a sister who lived at the hospital. We did the whole Ronald McDonald House thing, so I know what it takes (monetarily) for any kind of sickness.
"I know this will help. To intertwine football and kids for the holidays, it was something I've been thinking about."
Jones hasn't had a sack the past two games, but he does have 12 this season. And in his Cardinals' career, which started in 2016, he has had sack success against the last two opponents – the NFC West rivals Rams this weekend at home and Seahawks in Seattle for the finale.
Jones has had 4½ sacks in five games against the Rams since coming to the Cardinals and 5½ sacks in five games against the Seahawks.
While it does provide Jones with some incentive, he acknowledged he really didn't need anything extra in that regard. But he hopes that it will incentivize fans to watch the game and the struggling Cardinals, to know any play Jones could come off the edge and increase the PCH coffers by $20,000.
"It gets the fans involved," Jones said. "It's good not just for the donation and the cause, but also for people watching."
As for his exclusion from the Pro Bowl – Jones was named an alternate – the veteran understood the process.
"I'm not bummed about it," Jones said. "Both of these (last two) seasons, it's been tough on the body. The quicker to rest the better. I'm not saying I need rest, but I can use it.
"It's cool, the accolade. It would've been great to make it. But to be recognized (as an alternate), that's still awesome."
INJURY UPDATE
Safety Budda Baker (knee), defensive end Markus Golden (ankle), defensive tackle Rodney Gunter (foot), wide receiver J.J. Nelson (food poisoning) and tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (food poisoning) did not practice, coach Steve Wilks said.
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald had his normal Wednesday veteran rest day.
Wilks said cornerback David Amerson (concussion protocol) was back at practice and should be ready to play against the Rams. He also clarified that tackle Joe Barksdale, who he had said Monday was in the protocol, actually had been cleared Sunday and he had misspoke. Barksdale is healthy and should be in the lineup. Amerson was officially limited, as were wide receivers Trent Sherfield (ankle) and Chad Williams (hamstring).
For the Rams, who only did a walkthrough Wednesday, running backs Todd Gurley (knee) and Justin Davis (shoulder) and linebacker Samson Ebukam (illness) were limited.
PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES
The Cardinals adjusted the practice squad Wednesday, signing LB Pete Robertson and S Fish Smithson, and releasing OL Justin Evans. Both Robertson and Smithson spent the majority of the 2017 season on Washington's practice squad before being promoted late in the year.
