Chiefs bolster ailing defense
Nate Orchard has gone from a highly drafted pick of the Cleveland Browns to a featured star on HBO’s documentary series “Hard Knocks” to the couch as an unemployed linebacker in the NFL.
Now, he’s suiting up for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Maybe even the Super Bowl favorites.
Orchard signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday to shore up their pass rush besieged by injuries. Justin Houston could miss several weeks after hurting his hamstring in last Sunday’s win over Jacksonville while Dee Ford and Tanoh Kpassagnon have been dealing with nagging injuries.
“It was a nice time to be with my family,” Orchard said while standing in a mostly empty Chiefs locker room Wednesday, “but I’m very fortunate to be here with the record they have.”
The Chiefs (5-0) have become the trendy pick to win the AFC after routing the Jaguars last week, and they can validate those hopes with a win Sunday in New England. But winning on the road against Tom Brady and Co. became a lot tougher after the Chiefs’ defense sustained a surfeit of injuries last week.
Along with their ailing linebackers, the Chiefs had to put right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif on the disabled list with a broken bone in his leg and Armani Watts on the IR with a core muscle injury.
TRUBISKY TO KEEP SLEEVE >> Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will wear a protective sleeve on his throwing arm again Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
Coming off his biggest game in the NFL with six touchdown passes, Trubisky wants to begin achieving the consistency needed to keep the Bears (3-1) atop the NFC North.
Trubisky had to laugh at fan suggestions that the protective arm sleeve he wore against Tampa Bay had anything to do with his 354-yard passing effort.
“I had a little cut on my arm a few weeks ago, and then it reopened in Arizona on the first drive and was just gushing everywhere,” Trubisky said. “And I didn’t want that to happen, and I covered it up (against Tampa Bay).
“And then you play pretty well, some superstition, call it what you want. I also got a lot of threats (from fans) that I have to wear it. Yeah I’m going to keep it on. We’ll see what the color is, but it feels comfortable, gives me a little more swag or whatever.”
Trubisky’s passer rating vaulted from 77.8 to 101.6 after his big game. Until then, he’d never had more than two touchdown passes in a game. Now he’s had a bye week to move on from the effort.
AILING JETS ASSISTANT UNLIKELY TO WORK SUNDAY >> New York Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers briefly returned to the team’s facility, and coach Todd Bowles says there’s a “small chance” he coaches against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Rodgers is dealing with what Bowles characterized last week as a “serious” illness. The 49-year-old assistant coach wasn’t with the team last Sunday for its 3416 win over Denver. Rodgers had a medical appointment last Thursday and was not with the team for practice Friday.
On Wednesday, Bowles appeared more upbeat, saying Rodgers is feeling better. He added that Rodgers underwent some tests and would receive results next week.
JAGUARS RULE OUT RUNNING BACK FOURNETTE >> The Jacksonville Jaguars have ruled out running back Leonard Fournette for their game at Dallas. It will be the fourth game Fournette has missed this season.
Coach Doug Marrone says Fournette (hamstring), left tackle Josh Wells (groin) and cornerback D.J. Hayden (toe) will miss Sunday’s road game.
The Jaguars (3-2) signed veteran Jamaal Charles on Tuesday with the expectation that Fournette would be sidelined for an extended period. They also placed third-stringer Corey Grant (foot) on injured reserve.