It appears that Derrick Johnson has a strong chance to play Sunday, according to head coach Romeo Crennel. The ankle injury Johnson suffered in the team’s final preseason game against the Green Bay Packers appeared to be serious, but the Chiefs’ Pro Bowl linebacker has made great progress this week.
Toribio and Flowers are still major question marks. Toribio is out of a walking boot, but his status is uncertain. If he cannot go, the Chiefs will start this year’s first-round pick, Dontari Poe, at nose tackle. Flowers, the team’s best cornerback, has been battling a foot injury for several weeks.
The least likely to play out of all the injured players is Lewis, who has just started to work out again after sporting a sling for a few weeks due to a shoulder injury suffered in the team’s preseason game against the St. Louis Rams. Crennel mentioned that he doubts Lewis will be ready for week one and his injury could hold him out longer.
Atlanta is a good team, and the absence of any of these players will be a big blow to Kansas City. If Johnson plays, he may have limited mobility, and losing Flowers and Lewis would be a crushing blow to a secondary that is thin on depth. Add in that Pro Bowl pass rusher Tamba Hali is suspended for this game, and suddenly week one doesn’t look very promising for the Chiefs.
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