NFL NOTES 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.”

“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.