Oct 19, 2014; San Diego, CA; Chiefs wide receiver Junior Hemingway (88) grimaces as he walks off the field during the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs came out of Sunday’s 23-20 win against the San Diego Chargers relatively intact on the injury front.
Wide receiver Junior Hemingway suffered a strained hamstring, coach Andy Reid said during his weekly Monday media session.
“We just have to see how he does here,” Reid told reporters. “That’s really a day-to-day injury.”
Hemingway, who left the game before halftime, has a recent history with hamstring injuries.
The third-year pro dealt with a hamstring injury during training camp that caused him to miss almost two weeks of practice from late July to early August.
The Chiefs have options at slot wide receiver if Hemingway can’t practice in the coming days, notably wide receivers Frankie Hammond Jr. and rookie Albert Wilson, who was active Sunday for the first time since Week 1.
Tight end Travis Kelce, the team’s leading receiver, is dealing with a sore rib, Reid said. But the good news is the injury doesn’t appear to be serious.
“We’ve got to see how he does here,” Reid said, “but I think he’ll be OK as we go.”
The status quo applied to strong safety Eric Berry (ankle), cornerback Chris Owens (knee) and wide receiver Donnie Avery (groin).
Reid said Berry and Owens are “making progress” and the Chiefs will continue to evaluate them leading to Wednesday’s practice.
Berry and Owens did not play Sunday against the Chargers.
Berry, in particular, has missed four straight games since suffering the high ankle sprain in Week 2. He put in two practices last week before missing the final two days of practice leading to Sunday’s game.
Reid indicated Berry is working hard to return to the playing field.
“It’s not for a lack of effort for not wanting to be out there, for sure,” Reid said.
Avery underwent a sports hernia procedure on Oct. 3 and hasn’t practiced or played since.
Meanwhile, inside linebacker Joe Mays (wrist) is eligible to return to practice from the injured reserve with designation to return list.
The Chiefs, however, don’t anticipate Mays practicing considering the seventh-year pro recently had pins removed from his surgically repaired right wrist.
“The clock starts when he starts to practice,” Reid said, “so we’ll hold off until we get his arm rehabbed a little bit.”
Mays underwent surgery to repair ligament damage in August. He suffered the injury in the second preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
The Chiefs return to the practice field Wednesday in preparation to host the St. Louis Rams at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
