THE Kansas City Chiefs have numerous injury concerns to worry about ahead of their Week 9 matchup.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, and head coach Andy Reid will have decisions to make before the game.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reacts before the start of the NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8[/caption]
Mahomes stands on the sidelines during the national anthem[/caption]
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid looks on during the NFL game at Allegiant Stadium[/caption]
The Chiefs announced their Week 9 injury report, and it was lengthy.
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Shuster (hamstring), cornerback Nazeeh Johnson (concussion), and offensive lineman Ethan Driskell (illness) did not participate in Thursday’s practice.
Smith-Shuster missed all of last week’s practices and didn’t play in the Week 8 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Johnson left the Chiefs’ game last weekend due to a concussion.
He had started the game as the team’s new No. 2 cornerback after Jaylen Watson’s ankle injury and placement on injured reserve.
Defensive end Mike Danna (pectoral) and running back Kareem Hunt (quad) were limited in Thursday’s practice.
Danna has missed three games this season, including the last two because of the pectoral injury.
The full participants in practice but are on the injury report are as follows: wide receiver Mecole Hardman (knee), Mahomes (ankle), cornerback Trent McDuffie (knee), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (triceps), and Drue Tranquill (chest).
Mahomes is on the injury report for the first time this season.
Reid did provide an encouraging update on star running back Isaih Pacheco.
The 25-year-old has been on injured reserve since Week 2 due to a fractured fibula.
While Pacheco isn’t expected to return to practice on Friday or next week, Reid said “he’s doing fantastic.”
“He’s getting there, but he’s doing fantastic,” Reid told reporters Thursday.
“He’s really doing well. Between the trainers and doctors and all that, that’s out of my hands there. But he’s making great progress.”
Mahomes throws a pass under pressure during the second half of the Chiefs’ 27-20 victory[/caption]
In his absence, Hunt has taken over the team’s starting role and has rushed 84 times for 308 yards and four touchdowns.
Since last week, Pacheco and wide receivers Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice have been rehabbing in the team’s facility.
Brown underwent shoulder surgery in September after suffering a sternoclavicular injury during the preseason.
He is expected to miss the regular season but hasn’t been ruled out for a potential playoff run.
As for Rice, he will miss the remainder of the season after suffering an LCL injury.
Due to the Chiefs’ injury issues at the wideout position, the squad traded for DeAndre Hopkins, who made his team debut last week, playing 22 snaps and catching two passes for 29 yards.
Mahomes will likely play on Monday night as the Chiefs hope to stay undefeated.
