Injuries put Chiefs on shaky ground
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Chiefs coach Andy Reid delivered some promising news Wednesday when he rattled off the list of players who wouldn’t be practicing for this weekend’s trip to Seattle and running back Spencer Ware and offensive lineman Cam Erving were missing.
Then he mentioned right tackle Mitchell Schwartz.
“You mean Cam Erving, right?”
Reid was asked.
“No, Mitchell,” he replied. Well, so much for a promising injury report.
Reid indicated the Chiefs’ stalwart right tackle hurt his knee in last week’s fourth-quarter collapse against the Chargers, which prevented the Chiefs from clinching the AFC West and the AFC’s top seed, but also put even more pressure on Sunday night’s game against the Seahawks.
Reid did say that Schwartz was “making progress” and could play against Seattle.
“I mean, to me, he’s one of if not the best right tackle in the league,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of Schwartz, who was voted a Pro Bowl alternate this week. “He’s had a ton of success for a long time. It was disappointing him not making it (as a starter).”
Reid also said Kendall Fuller could play against the Seahawks, even though the Chiefs’ top cover cornerback played through a fractured hand against the Chargers. Fuller had a minor procedure to fix the damage and was wearing a soft cast around his right wrist in the locker room Wednesday.
Wide receiver Sammy Watkins also remained out as the Chiefs resumed workouts in earnest for the first time in a week, though Kelvin Benjamin continues to take on a bigger role in the offense.
The biggest help on that side of the ball might be Ware and Erving getting back.
Ware hurt his shoulder and hamstring a couple of weeks ago against Baltimore, and he was inactive for the game against the Chargers. Combine that with the release of Kareem Hunt earlier this season and the Chiefs were down to journeyman Damien Williams, Darrel Williams and Charcandrick West.
Damien Williams wound up flashing the most promise, running for 49 yards and two touchdowns while showing some ability in the passing game.
In fact, he performed so well that Reid indicated he would likely share some of the load with Ware, who had been the Chiefs’ clear-cut No. 1.
I mean, will it be equal? I don’t know about that. We’ll just see how it all shakes down,” Reid said. “Again, I told the guys if they’re available we’ll find a way to use you the best we can, so be ready and alert for it. We’ll see how it all shakes out there.”
The return of Erving helps to solidify an offensive line that has managed to weather injuries to just about everyone. Mitch Morse missed time with a concussion before returning to his center job, and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff remains on injured reserve with a broken leg.
Now, Schwartz is being held out of practice with a knee injury.
The injury outlook is a little rosier on defense, even with Fuller’s status for the Seahawks in question. Strong safety Eric Berry came out of his season debut against the Chargers in good shape and 10 days between games means it’s possible he could play the entire way Sunday night.
The Chiefs defense struggled in the second half against Los Angeles, when Berry went to the bench as planned. And he was sorely missing as the Chargers rallied for two late TDs and the win.