Benjamin excited for shot with Chiefs
Kelvin Benjamin went from catching passes from Josh Allen and Nathan Peterman on a Bills team going nowhere to playing with Patrick Mahomes on a Chiefs team barreling toward the playoffs.
Benjamin signed a oneyear contract to finish out the season Friday, just days after the 2014 first-round pick was released by the Bills. It brought an end to a disappointing run in which Benjamin struggled with one of the highest drop rates in the NFL.
“I guess you could say I saw it coming,” Benjamin said after his first workout with the Chiefs, who are preparing to play the Ravens on Sunday. “(The Chiefs) came pretty quick. I came for a visit, I liked what I saw. I liked what I heard.”
He liked everything about the situation.
Mahomes has already proven himself to be one of the league’s most exciting quarterbacks, and Benjamin called the Chiefs offense “dynamic.” He also has the support of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who said he one more change of scenery might finally unlock the potential that Benjamin has been scratching at for years.
“He’s been good against us, No. 1,” Reid said. “A big, physical player. You add him to the mix, he comes in, he’s experienced and he’s been a good football player at this level.”
Darnold not lock: The Jets’ starting quarterback against the Bills is still to be determined. Coach Todd Bowles declined to announce whether it will be rookie Sam Darnold or Josh McCown.
a“We’ll decide that on Sunday,” Bowles said. “Between him and Josh, they both had good weeks.”
If Darnold plays, it would be his first game action since being injured Nov. 4 against the Dolphins. Darnold was replaced for the last three games by McCown, who had one touchdown pass and four interceptions while the Jets went 0-3.
Darnold is healthy, but Bowles’ decision will be about whether the rookie has his timing back after the three-game layoff.
“Just us deciding whether he’s ready or not,” Bowles said.
Darnold has thrown for 1,934 yards, second to the Browns’ Baker Mayfield among rookies. He has 11 touchdown passes along with 14 interceptions.
Extra points: The Bears removed QB Mitch Trubisky from their injury list, clearing the way for a start Sunday night against the Rams. Trubisky missed the last two games with a right shoulder injury . ... Jets LB Darron Lee was suspended four games by the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy. The suspension begins immediately, meaning Lee will sit out the team’s final four games of the season . ... NFL interceptions leader Xavien Howard was ruled out of the Dolphins’ game Sunday against the Patriots because of a left knee injury. Center Jake Brendel was also ruled out because of a calf injury . ... The Panthers signed Chandler Catanzaro to handle kicking duties against the Browns on Sunday. Their regular kicker, Graham Gano, has been bothered by a knee injury and has not practiced the last two days.