Chiefs Injury Report - Three Players Hurt Against Saints

The Chiefs were able to pick up a huge win in New Orleans on Sunday, saving their season and cooling the frustrations of a heated fan base. However, the win came with a big price, as Kansas City lost several players due to injury during the New Orleans game.

Dexter McCluster, Peyton Hillis and Rodney Hudson all left Sunday’s game with an injury, and head coach Romeo Crennel indicated that at this point, he is unsure if any of the three will be able to play this Sunday. McCluster left the game in the second half with an elbow injury, Hillis has an injured ankle, and Hudson has injured his knee.

McCluster has been a pleasant surprise for the Chiefs this season, posting 13 receptions and often finding ways to move the chains with his quickness and speed. What hurts the Chiefs is they have no one who can replace McCluster’s role – Dwayne Bowe and Jonathan Baldwin are bigger, downfield threats and Steve Breaston is more of a possession receiver. Rookie Devon Wylie was supposed to be used in a similar role as McCluster; however he has been hurt most of this season and is not ready for playing time.

Hillis’ injury likely means more playing time for Shaun Draughn, as the team needs to limit the carries of Jamaal Charles. Charles had 39 touches against the Saints, far too many for an explosive back recovering from a serious knee injury. Hillis was signed to be a bruising, between the tackles runner who could give the Chiefs a change of pace from the dynamic Charles and take some of the work load off of him. Draughn had a solid preseason and has looked pretty good so far in a backup role this year.

Hudson, the team’s starting center, was replaced by Ryan Lilja. Lilja normally starts at guard, and was replaced by rookie Jeff Allen after assuming the center duties. To address depth concerns, the team signed offensive lineman Russ Hochstein this week.

This trio of hurt Chiefs join three others on the sideline – safety Kendrick Lewis, nose tackle Anthony Toribio and tight end Kevin Boss. It is still unclear if any of these players will be able to return for Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers.

Injuries are a part of the NFL, but the Chiefs’ already had some serious depth concerns before losing McCluster, Hillis and Draughn. Some young players are going to have to step up and fill the void if the Chiefs are to pull off another upset and beat the Chargers this weekend.

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Chiefs Injury Report - Charles Expected To Play

Things haven’t gone Kansas City’s way over the first two games of the 2012 NFL season, and when Jamaal Charles banged up his surgically-repaired knee during Sunday’s blowout loss to the Bills, it appeared that things would get worse. Chiefs fans can breathe a small sigh of relief, as Romeo Crennel has indicated that while Charles’ knee is sore, he will likely play this week against the New Orleans Saints.

Charles only played two games last season before tearing the ACL in his left knee, a huge disappointment after he enjoyed a monster season in 2010. Kansas City signed Peyton Hillis this offseason, and so far the team has limited Charles to only 22 carries this season. The running game has not been a problem for the Chiefs, and the team has often found itself being forced to pass as the defense has given up points at an alarming rate so far. Expect Kansas City to keep Charles’ load light, and for Hillis and Shaun Draughn to continue to get a good amount of carries. The team cannot afford to lose its biggest playmaker on offense for a second consecutive year, and must be cautious.

Kevin Boss also found himself in the locker room during Sunday’s game; however it appears his injury is much more serious. Boss sustained a head injury against the Bills, and left the game after feeling woozy after his hit. Boss is being re-evaluated this week, and since Kansas City has a good amount of depth at tight end, the Chiefs should be fine if Boss needs a week or two to heal.

Crennel also mentioned that cornerback and kick returner Javier Arenas hurt his neck against the Bills. There has been no word yet on whether or not Arenas will miss any time. There also have been no updates on defensive tackle Anthony Toribio or safety Kendrick Lewis, who haven’t played so far this season due to injuries.

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Kansas City Chiefs - Buffalo Bills Preview

Kansas City will be seeking to avenge one of its early-season blowout losses from last year, as it visits Buffalo to take on the Bills. This should be an interesting matchup, as both teams have similar story lines entering week two. Kansas City and Buffalo each gave up more than 40 points in their opener, and both teams are missing several key players due to injury.

If there ever was a time for the Chiefs to right the ship, this is it. The Bills were destroyed by the New York Jets in week one, 42-21, making the embattled Mark Sanchez look like Dan Marino. The team also lost starting running back Fred Jackson and receiver David Nelson, two big blows for the offense. Kansas City is still banged up on defense, and it is unknown if Brandon Flowers, Kendrick Lewis and Anthony Toribio will play on Saturday. All three are currently listed as questionable. One player who will be back is pass rushing specialist Tamba Hali, who should give Kansas City’s defense a huge boost. The biggest wildcard for this matchup is Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Since signing a lucrative long-term deal, Fitzpatrick has struggled in Buffalo, and last week he completed only 56% of his passes while throwing three interceptions. If Fitzpatrick plays well, the Bills will have a shot to score on the Chiefs’ banged up defense; if he continues to struggle and turns the ball over, the Chiefs may be able to take advantage of the good field position and put the game away. Kansas City will also have to deal with Jackson’s backup, C.J. Spiller, who exploded for 169 yards in week one including a 56 yard touchdown run.

Matt Cassel also struggled with turnovers in week one, as the Chiefs’ quarterback threw two interceptions and fumbled deep in his own territory. All three turnovers led to points for the Atlanta Falcons, a big reason why the game got out of hand quickly in the second half. Cassel and the Chiefs’ offensive line will have to account for Mario Williams, one of the best pass rushers in the NFL who signed with Buffalo during the offseason. If the team can slow Williams down and allow Cassel time to throw, he could be in for a big game against a Bills secondary that got torched last week. As usual, the Chiefs should be able to move the ball well on the ground, which should only help Cassel.

Both teams are reeling from big opening day losses, however the return of Hali and the Bills’ injuries on offense should help the Chiefs slow down Buffalo’s attack. This one will likely come down to the play of the quarterbacks, and big game from Cassel or Fitzpatrick could be the deciding factor.

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Chiefs Injury Report - Key Players Return To Practice

Injuries played a big part in the Chiefs’ season-opening loss to the Falcons last Sunday, as the defense found itself completely overmatched after due to the absence of several key players. There are some positive signs that the Chiefs are getting closer to full strength, although it is still unknown who will be playing this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Five players who have been battling injuries returned to practice on Wednesday – cornerback Brandon Flowers, safety Kendrick Lewis, defensive tackle Anthony Toribio, cornerback Jalil Brown and defensive end Allen Bailey. None of the players were full participants in the practice, but it is a good sign that they suited up and got some repetitions. Flowers also got some practice time last week, and head coach Romeo Crennel has indicated that Flowers will play when he is able to significantly practice. Wide receiver Devon Wylie, who has been battling a hamstring injury, did not practice and will miss Sunday’s game.

Flowers, Lewis and Toribio were all starters entering the season, while Brown and Bailey are key backups. Having both Flowers and Brown hurt at the same time is an especially crushing blow for Kansas City’s defense, as Brown serves as Flowers’ backup. With both absent on Sunday, plus Lewis’ injury, Atlanta’s wide receivers had a field day.

While the Chiefs are missing some key pieces on defense, the Bills are without two crucial offensive players. During their opening day blowout loss to the New York Jets, Buffalo lost both running back Fred Jackson and wide receiver David Nelson. Jackson sprained his knee and will miss four weeks, while Nelson tore a right knee ligament and has been placed on injured reserve, ending his 2012 season. The end result will be two depleted units facing each other for the first time since the Bills blew out the Chiefs in last season’s opener.

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Chiefs vs. Falcons Recap

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2012 season got off to a rocky start yesterday, as the team fell to the Atlanta Falcons, 40-24. A disastrous second half ultimately did the Chiefs in, and the team is once again starting the season off with a loss.

Atlanta was the favorite, and the Chiefs were hit hard with injuries to key players that impacted the game. It appeared that cornerback Brandon Flowers was going to play, however the team decided to hold him out of Sunday’s game. With injuries to safety Kendrick Lewis and defensive tackle Anthony Toribio, as well as Tamba Hali’s absence due to a one game suspension, the Chiefs entered the game missing several critical components to its defense.

Despite being out-manned, Kansas City hung right with Atlanta throughout the first half. The team consistently moved the ball and found themselves only trailing 20-17 at the break. However, the third quarter proved to be disastrous for the Chiefs. Ryan Succop missed a field goal, and the Falcons answered with a touchdown minutes later to take a 27-17 lead. On the team’s next possession, Cassel fumbled while getting sacked, giving Atlanta another short field to work with. Former Chief great Tony Gonzalez hauled in a seven yard touchdown catch to give the Falcons a commanding 34-17 lead. After a couple more Atlanta field goals, Kansas City found itself down 40-17 in the fourth, and a Shaun Draughn touchdown in the game’s waning seconds made the game look closer than it really was.

Offensively, the team managed to run the ball effectively, and Jamaal Charles looked like his old self in the first half. Unfortunately, the team was unable to overcome Matt Cassel’s up-and-down performance. Cassel made some good plays, but his three turnovers gave Atlanta a short field, which the Falcons exploited every time. Cassel has to make better decisions and limit his turnovers, especially while the defense struggles to get healthy. Expect the Chiefs to rely on the ground game even more in the future, especially now that Charles has proven that he is fully recovered from his ACL tear.

It is hard to judge the Chiefs defense after this game because so many key players were missing. Kansas City was without its top pass rusher, top corner and a starting safety, and Matt Ryan took advantage and had a field day. Hali’s return will give this unit a significant boost, but the team has got to get Flowers back soon. He should be close to returning, and a healthier Chiefs defense should look a lot better in week two.

Next up for Kansas City are the Buffalo Bills, who got blown out by the New York Jets in week one. The game is in Buffalo, with a 12:00 p.m. kickoff.

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Derrick Johnson and Brandon Flowers Expected To Play Sunday

Yesterday we reported that while Derrick Johnson will likely play on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, several other key players were still question marks in regards to their availability. Chiefs fans get even better news today, as it appears star cornerback Brandon Flowers will likely be good to go for week one.

Flowers lined up with the starters in practice yesterday, which is a strong sign that he will be used heavily this Sunday. It is unlikely the Chiefs would use Flowers with the first-string defense this close to its first regular season game if he couldn’t play or would receive limited minutes. Flowers has made some big strides in the past couple of days in his recovery from a foot injury he sustained in late July.

While the Chiefs’ cornerback may be rusty after missing the entire preseason and getting limited practice time, Flowers should still be a big boost for Kansas City’s defense. The Falcons have several dangerous wide receivers, and the Chiefs will be missing Tamba Hali due to his one-game suspension.

Flowers’ return is also big because it appears that Kendrick Lewis will not be on the field Saturday. Asking the secondary to play well without Hali missing one starter is already a tall ordeal, and there is no way the unit would stop Atlanta if both Flowers and Lewis were missing on Sunday. Jalil Brown, who had replaced Flowers in the starting lineup, appears to be banged up as well.

Apart from Lewis, it appears that defensive linemen Anthony Toribio and Allen Bailey will not be able to go Sunday. Their absence means the team will depend on first-round pick Dontari Poe to make a difference for the Chiefs’ defensive line. The experience should benefit Poe, but the Chiefs are starting to get paper-thin in terms of depth. Any more injuries, and the defense may be unable to duplicate the success it enjoyed last season.

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Chiefs Injury Report - Several Key Players Uncertain For Week One

The Chiefs 2012 regular season opener is only four days away, and the team is still waiting to see if they will have several key players available for their matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Cornerback Brandon Flowers, defensive tackle Anthony Toribio, linebacker Derrick Johnson, quarterback Brady Quinn and safety Kendrick Lewis are all uncertain for week one.

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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Kansas City Chiefs - Green Bay Packers Preview

The Chiefs will wrap up their preseason tonight, as they visit Green Bay to take on the Packers. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Kansas City is looking to turn things around after an embarrassing performance against the Seattle Seahawks in its last preseason game. After opening the preseason with a rare victory, Kansas City has reverted back to struggling in its exhibition games. In fact, since 2004, the team is 7-28 in the preseason, however these exhibition games have often given little indication on how the team will perform during the regular season.

It is unknown how long the Chiefs starters will play. Head coach Romeo Crennel indicated that he will go by feel. The Chiefs played most of their starters for quite a while in last year’s final preseason game, although Crennel may elect to play his reserves more to prevent any more injuries from occurring. Cornerback Brandon Flowers and safety Kendrick Lewis continue to be held out, and the team will also likely be without CB Jalil Brown, DT Toribio, WR Terrence Copper and DL Allen Bailey for tonight’s game. Toribio has been used as the starting nose tackle, so his absence means first-round pick Dontari Poe will have an opportunity to play with the starters and prove himself to the coaching staff. Another player who has something to prove is the recently-signed Dwayne Bowe, who may see a lot of action as the coaches try to get him up to speed before the regular season starts.

The Packers may have revenge on their minds entering this game, as the Chiefs were the only team to defeat them in the regular season last year. If Green Bay wants to avenge last year’s loss, they will have to do so with their backups – head coach Mike McCarthy indicated that the starters will play only one series, and many starters will not see the field at all. Graham Harrell, the Packers second-string quarterback, has struggled mightily this preseason, and the coaching staff will likely try to give him as much game time as they can.

Since Kansas City will be facing Green Bay’s backups for almost the entire game, this will be a good opportunity for the team to gain some confidence and erase the memory of the Seahawks game. However, the Chiefs simply cannot afford to lose any more key players to injury, so Crennel may have to pull his starters early as well. We may see an ugly battle-of-the-backups tonight at Lambeau field.

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