KANSAS CITY, Mo. – One question lingered from the Chiefs 27-20 win over the Houston Texans.
And it surrounded if right tackle Eric Fisher asked the coaching staff to not play in the season opener because of a high-ankle sprain.
Sept. 13, 2015; Houston; Chiefs head coach Andy Reid during the first half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Chiefs coach Andy Reid responded in emphatic fashion during a Monday afternoon conference call with team beat writers.
“I can help clear that up for you, like that’s an absolute no,” Reid said. “He didn’t go to any coach. I know things are out there. I think it’s ridiculous.”
Reid reinforced what he told reporters Sunday afternoon after the game, pointing out Fisher practiced in the week leading to the Sunday’s game.
“I was the one that watched him practice,” Reid said. “And I thought, listen, if I put him out there, I’m going to put him in a terrible situation. The kid is trying his tail off to make it and it’s not going work, and so it was that simple.”
The Chiefs eventually allowed Jah Reid, who signed just a week ago, to get repetitions at right tackle leading to the fifth-year pro starting in place of Fisher, who originally suffered the injury on Aug. 17.
Coach Reid complimented Jah Reid, saying the offensive lineman “did a respectable job,” as well as praising the entire offensive line of Reid, left tackle Donald Stephenson, left guard Ben Grubbs, rookie center Mitch Morse and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.
Fisher, who was designated as questionable for Sunday’s game, played one snap on offense late in the game in relief of Stephenson, who suffered a finger injury, which isn’t considered serious.
Fisher also logged six snaps on special teams.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear if Fisher will be available for Thursday night’s showdown against the Denver Broncos.
The Chiefs will have one day of practice Tuesday before the game, and that short timeframe can’t be good for any player battling through a high-ankle sprain.
“These things, they’re nagging and so everyone is different,” Reid said. “I’m just going to play it by ear and just see how things roll here. But until he can push off or I feel that he can do that, I can’t put him out there at all.”
As to if Fisher is the starter when he returns healthy, Reid indicated that also remains in the air.
“Yeah, we’ll see on all that,” Reid said. “That’s how this rolls.”
The head coach first wants to see Fisher on the field.
“I’m hoping that he can get back out there,” Reid said.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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