KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs defensive tackle Mike Pennel completes serving his two-game suspension for violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy this week, and head coach Andy Reid indicates the veteran may see action when the team visits Baltimore on Monday night.
“There’s a chance that he’s back up and ready to go,” Reid said during his Monday press conference. “I’ll let (general manager Brett) Veach do that part, but there’s a good chance he’s up.”
The Chiefs can certainly use reinforcements along the defensive interior after a bruising battle in a 23-20 overtime win over the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday and dealing with injuries along the line.
The club placed Khalen Saunders on injured reserve Saturday and elevated Braxton Hoyett from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. Pennel will likely take Saunders’ spot on the 53-man roster.
Hoyett, who by default returns to the practice squad, played two snaps against the Chargers. Chris Jones played 75 snaps – 90 percent of the team’s 83 defensive snaps – while Derrick Nnadi played 51 and rookie Tershawn Wharton picked up 25.
The Chiefs faced the Chargers without Saunders and defensive end Alex Okafor, who missed the game due to a hamstring injury. Edge rusher Frank Clark also exited the game with a stomach illness.
Pennel served as a spark plug for the Kansas City defense last season after his arrival at midseason, collecting 24 total tackles in eight games. Pro Football Focus graded Pennel as the Chiefs’ best run defender in their front seven and No. 22 in the league among interior defensive linemen.
