KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs offensive line remains in flux without both center Mitch Morse and right Laurent Duvernay-Tardif out for Sunday night’s game at the Houston Texans. Linebacker Dee Ford will also miss his second-straight game with a back injury.
Aug. 21, 2015; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (76) warms up before the preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at Arrowhead Stadium. (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Duvernay-Tardiff suffered a sprained MCL during Monday’s win over Washington. Morse remains on the sidelines with a sprained foot.
The loss of Morse and Duvernay-Tardif forces further shuffling along the offensive line. Zach Fulton expects to received this third-straight start at center filling in for Morse.
Head coach Andy Reid appears to have options filling Duvernay-Tardif’s spot on the line. Parker Ehinger, returning from a torn ACL sustained last October, did not appear at all on the team’s injury report.
“He worked in,” Reid said of the second-year lineman. “We’ll see. He’s one of the guys that rotated in there. We’ll see how it all works out.”
Jordan Devey, who filled in for Duvernay-Tardif following his injury against Washington, also remains an option at right guard.
The good news for the Chiefs offensive line comes from left tackle Eric Fisher. He was a game-time decision last week with back spasms but played well against Washington on Monday night. Fisher practiced in full all week and appears ready for the Texans.
Houston starting cornerback Kevin Johnson did not practice this week. He missed the team’s last two games with sprained MCL. Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus was limited in practice this week with an ankle injury.
The Texans continue to battle absences and injuries along the offensive line. Left tackle Duane Brown continues his contract holdout. Starting LG Xavier Su’a-Filo missed practice time this week with a knee injury but expects to play. Backup guard Kyle Fuller is out and back center Greg Mancz is questionable, although he appears likely to be active Sunday night.
HOUSTON TEXANS
OUT: G Kyle Fuller, CB Kevin Johnson and ILB Ben Heeney
DOUBTFUL: None
QUESTIONABLE: C Greg Mancz
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: G Kyle Fuller (hamstring), CB Kevin Johnson (knee) and ILB Ben Heeney (knee) and C Greg Mancz (knee)
Limited participation: G Xavier Su’a-Filo (knee)
Full participation: S Andre Hal (ribs), RB Jordan Todman (foot), CB Marcus Burley (knee), DE Christian Covington (knee), CB Kareem Jackson (hamstring), OLB Whitney Mercilus (ankle) and DE J.J. Watt (finger)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OUT: C Mitch Morse, RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and LB Dee Ford
DOUBTFUL: None
QUESTIONABLE: None
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: C Mitch Morse (foot), LB Dee Ford (back) and RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (knee)
Limited participation: None
Full participation: QB Alex Smith (ankle), LT Eric Fisher (back), DT Bennie Logan (knee) and LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (groin)
———-
Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
———-
