KC Chiefs Week 17 Injury Updates on Isiah Pacheco, L’Jarius Sneed, Others
The Kansas City Chiefs are just two days away from their AFC Championship Game rematch with the Cincinnati Bengals. As expected for an outing this late in the season, neither team is 100% healthy.
Andy Reid's squad is dealing with a multitude of lingering injuries, as well as some fresh ones suffered in Week 16's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The first couple of practice days saw many players sit out, whereas others have since managed to return and improve their likelihood of playing on Sunday.
Friday's practice, normally the most important of the week, is over. Kansas City is ruling out a pair of players for Week 17, but the team is still unsure about some others. Reid took the podium on Friday afternoon to provide an update on where things stand on the injury front.
Donovan Smith, Kadarius Toney not playing against the Bengals
To lead things off, Reid announced that left tackle Donovan Smith and wide receiver Kadarius Toney won't play this weekend. Neither player has practiced all week, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that they'll both be inactive on Sunday.
This marks the fourth game in a row that Smith will end up missing as the veteran offensive lineman recovers from a neck stinger. Rookie Wanya Morris will once again start in relief of him. For Toney, this is his second-straight missed outing because of a hip injury and his third overall this season. Kansas City has no shortage of cooks in the kitchen at wideout, though, even without the former first-round pick in the fold.
Chiefs waiting to see how Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire progress into the weekend
Perhaps the biggest injury news for the Chiefs on Friday was that running back Isiah Pacheco returned to practice. Pacheco suffered a concussion in the third quarter of Monday's loss to the Raiders after losing his helmet and subsequently getting kneed in the head by center Creed Humphrey. While it's good that Kansas City's leading rusher is advancing in the league's return-to-play protocol, Reid reminded everyone that there are still more hoops to jump through before he can officially get back on the field.
"So he practiced today, which is a part of that protocol," Reid said. "We have to see how he [does] after today. Just from talking to him out there, he did well during the practice, but there's more to it than that."
Elsewhere in the backfield, Clyde Edwards-Helaire has missed back-to-back practices due to an ongoing illness. Reid said that he's "getting better" and once the team gets him through this, he thinks it's still very possible for the fourth-year man to play on Sunday. With Pacheco in and out of the lineup as of late and Jerick McKinnon on the injured reserve list, Edwards-Helaire has emerged as an unexpected key piece in the Kansas City running back rotation.
A good news/bad news situation with L'Jarius Sneed plus a brief Mecole Hardman tidbit
This is a bit of a unique week for the Chiefs, as they can clinch the division with a victory. It's bordering on must-win territory, making injury situations more nuanced in how they're handled. Because of the intricate timing regarding players like Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire, the importance of participating in Friday's practice may not carry the same weight it normally does. That could also apply to cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, who has missed every practice this week but is going to be questionable for Sunday. In most other weeks, he'd likely have been ruled out. Sneed is dealing with a calf strain that is getting treatment.
On the other side of the ball, wide receiver Mecole Hardman is still technically not activated off IR. He's been a full participant in practice this week, however, so his chances of coming back this weekend appear solid. Reid said Kansas City still has some roster math to do before making a final decision regarding the veteran pass-catcher.
"We'll see," Reid said. "He's been repping in there, but we've got to do the whole number count and see how that goes."
