Report: Chandler Jones had ‘bad reaction to substance,’ not drug overdose

New England Patriots tight end Chandler Jones reportedly sought help at the Foxboro Police station on Sunday morning after he experienced a “bad reaction” to a substance he had taken.

Chris Gasper of the Boston Globe reports that Jones did not overdose on a drug like cocaine, heroine or painkillers, as some have speculated. Instead, Jones supposedly had a “bad reaction to a substance he put in his body” and walked to the police station since he lives nearby. Jones was at the Patriots facility at 6:30 a.m. lifting weights the following morning, according to Gasper’s source.

While it may not sound like there is a significant difference between a “bad reaction” and an overdose, there certainly could be. One implies that you took too much of something while the other does not.

The initial report about Jones claimed he was rushed to the hospital via ambulance after he overdosed on pills. The Patriots confirmed Jones was taken to the hospital and released on Sunday but would not provide any further information.

It remains unclear what exactly Jones took, though audio from the dispatch call after he showed up to the police station indicated that an officer found Class D drugs — the most common of which is marijuana — at the 25-year-old’s home.

We may never find out exactly what caused Jones’ medical emergency, but the speculation has been very premature. While it does seem as though the Foxboro police chief may have been covering for Jones when you read some of the details, it would be unfair to assume Jones was doing something illegal without any actual evidence.

As is the case with any situation potentially involving a substance abuse violation, the NFL is looking into the incident.