Nov 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs wide receiver Donnie Avery (17) fumbles as he is tackled by Broncos free safety Rahim Moore (26) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Starting split end wide receiver Donnie Avery returned to the lineup Sunday night against the Denver Broncos after missing the previous seven games.
Avery, who underwent a sports hernia procedure in early October, appeared relieved to finally be on the field.
“Just wanted to be out here with my teammates and not be at home looking at the game,” he said. “So I’m glad I was out here with them today.”
The Chiefs apparently wanted to get Avery involved early, as the first play of the game went deep to Avery, but it fell incomplete in the middle of the field.
“It was good to have him back,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “Missed him. He has that presence of really stretching the field. I wish we could have made some things happen with him.”
Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was also happy to see Avery on the field.
“It was like the old days to see him out there running around just being himself,” Bowe said. “We got him back into it. He’s a little rusty, but he’s doing his best to get back into it and make plays to put us in position.”
Avery finished the game with one catch for 20 yards on two targets, and he admitted to being rusty.
He was also fully aware his fourth-quarter fumble proved costly.
Still, Avery didn’t want to dwell on the turnover, instead preferring to look ahead with a game under his belt on his return.
“I made a big mistake for the team,” he said. “We’ll put this behind us and get ready for next week.”
