KC Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins Wild Card Injuries and Inactives: Who's In, Who's Out?

The Kansas City Chiefs are closing in on kickoff for their first playoff game of the 2023-24 campaign. The postseason is finally here, and so is a key meeting against the Miami Dolphins.

Coming into town is Mike McDaniel's Miami team on the heels of back-to-back losses to end the regular season. With that said, the Dolphins matched Kansas City's 11-6 record and have one of the best offenses in the NFL. Brutal weather conditions locally project to make this a tough game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, however, making it an uncomfortable night for everyone.

As expected, no one is truly at 100% at this stage in a long NFL season. Injuries and the war of attrition will undoubtedly impact this game, especially for the visitors. Both sides understand the task at hand and will be fighting through the pain, if possible, with the Divisional Round in mind.

Ahead of their outing back at home, the Chiefs' list of inactive players has been released. Here's who won't suit up for Kansas City:

WR Justyn Ross
WR Kadarius Toney
CB Keith Taylor
DE BJ Thompson
OL Wanya Morris
DT Neil Farrell
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah

The Chiefs knew they'd be missing one player in advance of Saturday's game. Rookie left tackle Wanya Morris, who suffered a concussion in last weekend's win over the Los Angeles Chargers, was ruled out by head coach Andy Reid on Thursday. While Morris wasn't able to clear protocol in time to return, veteran Donovan Smith is back from his neck injury. The ailment held the 30-year-old out for five straight games to end the regular season, but he's back in the lineup and set to make the start for Kansas City.

Elsewhere for the Chiefs, a pair of wide receivers carried questionable designations into the weekend. Justyn Ross and Kadarius Toney, nursing respective hamstring and hip/ankle injuries, were both limited participants in practice to close out the week. Reid said if Toney was active, he'd have a "limited" role on offense. Despite that, neither player will be active for the Chiefs' first playoff game of the year.

Earlier on Saturday, Kansas City activated defensive tackle Mike Pennel and cornerback Keith Taylor from the practice squad via Standard Elevation. Pennel is active for the first time this season, whereas Taylor's call-up didn't parlay itself into any snaps on game day. Rookie defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah is a surprise appearance on the inactives list. The first-round pick played in all 17 of the Chiefs' games in the regular season.

The Dolphins' inactives have also been released:

WR Robbie Chosen
QB Skylar Thompson (emergency third quarterback)
S Jevon Holland
CB Cam Smith
CB Xavien Howard
OT Kion Smith
TE Tyler Kroft

Unfortunately for Miami, the injury bug bit them about as hard as any other team by the time the regular season concluded. In addition to cornerback Xavien Howard getting ruled out, four players were questionable entering Saturday. Safeties DeShon Elliott and Jevon Holland, running back Raheem Mostert and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle all had at least a bit of uncertainty cast upon their Wild Card availability. Of the aforementioned group of four, only Holland is out against the Chiefs.

Chiefs vs. Dolphins: Wild Card Preview and Predictions