K.C. will not play Patrick Mahomes vs. Bolts on Sunday with AFC home-field advantage locked up.
With nothing to play for, Henne gets nod in place of Mahomes
The NFL had no exhibition games in 2020.
On just the third day of 2021, the Chargers will participate in an exercise very exhibition-like.
Kansas City coach Andy Reid announced Wednesday that backup Chad Henne will be his starting quarterback for a regular-season finale that also will feature plenty of Chargers reserves.
The game can’t affect the playoffs, with the Chargers sitting at 6-9 and the Chiefs already having clinched the AFC’s top seed.
So Patrick Mahomes likely won’t even suit up, Reid suggesting veteran Matt Moore would be activated off the practice squad to serve as his No. 2 quarterback. Henne, 35, hasn’t started a game since 2014, when he was playing for Gus Bradley in Jacksonville. Bradley is now the Chargers’ defensive coordinator. Over the last six seasons, Henne has thrown only 11 passes.
Among the Chiefs who didn’t practice because of injury Wednesday were wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, and running backs Le’Veon Bell and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
“Sometimes, that’s a setup,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said of facing a compromised roster. “Those guys are going to go in there and play their tails off, and it will be a more physical, fast and intense game than you ever thought it was going to
be.”
The Chargers also will employ several depth players because of injuries. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins is out because of a high-ankle sprain. Lynn indicated Monday that cornerback Casey Hayward (hamstring) and right tackle Bryan Bulaga (foot) are unlikely to play.
On Wednesday, Lynn sounded less than optimistic about the availability of wide receiver Keenan Allen (hamstring) and defensive end Joey Bosa (shin/ concussion).
Tight end Hunter Henry remains on the COVID-19 reserve list and hasn’t practiced since before the Chargers’ Week 15 game against Las Vegas. Left tackle Sam Tevi (knee) also didn’t practice Wednesday.
Bills fans can attend playoffs
The Buffalo Bills were granted permission by state officials to allow a little more than 6,700 fans to attend their opening-round NFL playoff game in Orchard Park, N.Y., under strict protocols that require attendees to test negative for the coronavirus.
The Bills announced the plan Wednesday, with the exact number of fans permitted to be 6,772. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote on Twitter that fans also will be subject to contact tracing after the game. According to Cuomo, the arrangement came about under an agreement among the Bills, the NFL and the state.
Notable
The Cleveland Browns had two more positive COVID-19 tests on Wednesday — including one for an assistant coach — throwing its schedule into disorder as the team gets ready to play Pittsburgh on Sunday with a spot in the playoffs riding on the outcome.
• Dalvin Cook’s incredible season has come to an end as the Vikings running back left the team this week after the death of his father, and he will be unavailable for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Lions, according to a league source.
• The Green Bay Packers have claimed veteran defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks.
• The San Francisco 49ers signed Robbie Gould to a renegotiated contract that keeps him on the team through 2022 with a guaranteed contract at a reduced rate from his current deal. Gould was also placed on the COVID-19 list Wednesday and will miss the season finale against Seattle.