L'Jarius Sneed, Several Other KC Chiefs Miss Practice Ahead of Game vs. Bengals

Kansas City has a laundry list of injured players to start the week of practice entering Week 17.

After a day off following their Christmas Day loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Kansas City Chiefs are back in preparation for a Sunday matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The week of practice kicks off on Wednesday, although multiple players won't be participating.

Taking the podium on Wednesday morning, head coach Andy Reid provided a list of those who aren't expected to practice. It consists of running back Isiah Pacheco (concussion), left tackle Donovan Smith (neck), wide receiver Kadarius Toney (hip) and cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed (calf strain) and Jaylen Watson (sick). 

Pacheco still in concussion protocol, team exercising patience with Smith

In his first game back from a brief absence due to shoulder surgery, Pacheco didn't finish the outing. After his helmet came off in the third quarter against Las Vegas, the second-year halfback got kneed in the head by center Creed Humphrey. The incidental contact led to Pacheco being taken out of the game and later diagnosed with a concussion. As the practice week ramps up, he's still in the league's multi-step protocol. Whether he'll exit in time to play in Week 17 remains to be seen.

As far as Smith is concerned, Kansas City's offseason free agent pickup has been inactive for the team's last three games. He tried to play through the pain in a Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, although he logged just 21 snaps in the defeat. Smith was a limited participant in practice last week but didn't progress to full participation at any point, leading to him being ruled out for the Christmas game. Rookie Wanya Morris continues to get first-team reps and fill in during Smith's absence. Here's what Reid said about Smith's injury on Wednesday: 

"I think the rest is helping it. It's getting better, it just takes a little bit of time."

Chiefs' wide receiver rotation iffy with Toney, Hardman situations

The Chiefs were without Toney last game after he didn't practice at all during the week. The third-year receiver's hip has bothered him for a while now, leading to him missing a couple of contests throughout the season. Reid wouldn't lean one way or another regarding his potential availability for Week 17, referring to his situation as "day by day" in nature. Toney's participation listing for Thursday and Friday will be worth monitoring.

Hardman was designated to return last week but didn't get activated off the injured reserve list after being limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. When asked whether an official return to the lineup for him is imminent, Reid said "we'll see" and that the Chiefs will give Hardman "another chance" to practice this week before a decision is made. Hardman, acquired in-season via a trade with the New York Jets, has eight receptions for 41 yards in four games with Kansas City this year. 

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