Chiefs game flexed out of Monday, Dec. 18

FOXBOROUGH — The Week 15 game between the Patriots and Chiefs, which had been set for Monday, Dec. 18, has been flexed out in favor of an Eagles-Seahawks matchup, it was announced Thursday.

The Patriots will play Kansas City Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. It’s the first time a game has been flexed out of Monday night, according to ESPN.

The Patriots have two more primetime games — Thursday, Dec. 7 against the Steelers in Pittsburgh (8:15 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 24 in Denver against the Broncos (8:15 p.m.)

Henry healthy and wise

Hunter Henry, who will get the chance to face his old team Sunday, wasn’t able to play a full season in his five years with the Chargers because of health issues, including a torn ACL in his right knee that sidelined him for the 2018 season.

However, the tight end hasn’t missed a game in his two-plus seasons in New England. On Thursday, he was asked about his run of good health and said his availability has been a point of pride.

“I think it comes with a little luck, too, in a lot of ways,” said Henry, who has 30 catches for 298 yards and three touchdowns this season. “Obviously, hard work and taking care of your body. Trying to build strength. Trying to do as much as you can to stay out there.

“Luck goes with it a little bit. There are things you can’t control. But I try and take pride in that, just being available for the guys in any capacity that I can be. Just being out there. That’s huge for me, and something I want to continue.”

Guy has positive mind-set

Count defensive lineman Lawrence Guy as one veteran who is going to keep battling. Asked about the mindset coming into this weekend with the Patriots at 2-9, he bottom-lined the message for himself and the rest of the team.

“You can’t change the record,’' he said. “But every time you touch that field, it’s your legacy being written. So when you keep that in your mind-set, you have to [make sure] that you perform, consistently.

“Consistently going and fighting every single down. That’s what you have to play like. You have to play like your last name means something to this game. You have to play like the person next to you means something in this game. You have to keep that mind-set.”

Andrews: advice to heart

David Andrews was in good spirits in his weekly conversation with the media, and explained why, relating a conversation he had with his uncle, Dan Reeves, who coached 23 seasons in the NFL and played for eight years. Reeves, who died in 2022, told Andrews that off-field obligations should be viewed as an “honor” and not a chore.

“It’s kind of different, honestly, but similar to this,” Andrews said. “It’s an honor to get up here and speak and talk to you all. It’s tough at times, it’s good at times.

“But it beats doing a lot of other things. And there’s a lot of good that comes along with it. You get to go play football for a living. You get to come up here and speak to you all for a couple of minutes a day, I’ll take it.”

Douglas does not practice

Wide receivers Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder/illness) and offensive lineman Riley Reiff (knee) missed practice Thursday. With Douglas also missing practice Wednesday, it seems unlikely he’ll be able to play Sunday . . . The Patriots had eight players limited: Andrews (foot), Ja’Whaun Bentley (hamstring), Chris Board (back), Trent

Brown (ankle/chest), Ezekiel Elliott (thigh), Matthew Slater (ankle), Sidy Sow (ankle), and Deatrich Wise Jr. (shoulder) . . . As for the Chargers, wide receiver Keenan Allen (quadricep) missed a second straight day of practice . . . Guy compared dynamic Chargers running back Austin Ekeler to former teammate James White. “Can catch the ball, can run the ball. Very mobile. Very quick. Can run good routes,” Guy said of Ekeler, who has

428 yards rushing and 286 receiving yards this season. “You need to run the ball in between the gaps, he can do it. Go out for a pass, he’ll do that.” . . . The Patriots announced the addition of kicker Matthew Wright to the practice squad. (He was spotted at practice wearing the No. 47.) In a corresponding move, they released wide receiver