Chiefs add seven to COVID protocols
The AFC-West leading Chiefs added wide receiver Tyreek Hill, cornerback Rashad Fenton and tight end Blake Bell to their growing reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday that already included tight end Travis Kelce and kicker Harrison Butker.
Kansas City also has Charvarius Ward on the list, which means two of its top three cornerbacks are in the league’s virus protocols, along with defensive tackle Chris Jones, linebacker Willie Gay Jr. and wide receiver Josh Gordon.
Linebacker Nick Bolton, offensive lineman Kyle Long, right tackle Lucas Niang and safety Armani Watts also were added to list Tuesday.
The Chiefs face the Steelers on Sunday.
Another receiver on an AFC contender tested positive for the coronavirus, as the Bills placed wideout — and the team’s most vocal vaccine critic — Cole Beasley on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
The move makes Beasley’s status uncertain for a key showdown with first place in the AFC East on the line at New England on Sunday.
Buffalo could now be minus two starting receivers after Emmanuel Sanders missed this past weekend’s win over Carolina because of a knee injury.
The list of players going on the reserve/COVID-19 list also includes Lions quarterback Jared Goff and tackle Matt Nelson, Jets guard Alijah VeraTucker and cornerback Michael Carter, Ravens linebacker Pernell McPhee, Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Texans defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson.
More medical news: Browns defensive end Takk McKinley has a torn Achilles and will miss the rest of the season, CBS Sports reported . ... The Jaguars put running back Carlos Hyde (concussion) and safety Rayshawn Jenkins (broken ankle) on injured reserve . ... Also landing on IR were Panthers cornerback A.J. Bouye (foot), Broncos tight end Andrew Beck (elbow), Jets tight end Ryan Griffin (knee), Bengals linebacker Joe Bachie (knee) and Washington running back J.D. McKissic (neck).
Briefly: The Falcons signed former Cal wide receiver Chad Hansen to their practice squad. ... The Ravens signed former Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley to their practice squad.