KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs will be without four key players Sunday in their road trip to visit the New York Giants. The team ruled our linebackers Dee Ford and Tamba Hali along with defensive lineman Allen Bailey and wide receiver Albert Wilson.
Reid left the status of all four players up in the air following practice Friday.
“They’re all making progress and then we’ll just see here,” Reid said. “They’ll all meet with (head athletic trainer) Rick (Burkholder) and we’ll just see how they do here in the next day or so.”
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford tackles Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles during the team’s 27-20 win over the Eagles Sept. 17, 2017. (Photo by Justin Olson, ChiefsDigest.com)
Not enough progress, however, to put any of the four on the field against the Giants, who own just one win in nine tries this season.
Ford’s injury may be the biggest long-term concern for the Chiefs. This marks the fourth game Ford will miss this season with a back injury, which first affected the pass rusher last season.
Hali’s return in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys appeared to add much-needed depth at outside linebacker. With Hali out too, that leaves the Chiefs with Justin Houston and Frank Zombo as starters and rookie Tanoh Kpassagon as a backup.
Bailey sustained a sprained knee against Dallas in Week 9. The Chiefs have not revealed much about the extent of his injury, with Reid only saying Bailey continued improving. His absence shortens the team’s defensive line rotation, especially with the recent departure of defensive tackle Roy Miller. That likely means more playing time for Chris Jones and Rakeem-Nunez Roches.
Wilson will miss his second-straight game with a hamstring injury. Barring a late roster addition on Saturday, the Chiefs appear ready to play once again with just four wide receivers. Starters Tyreek Hill and Demarcus Robinson expect to see the bulk of the playing time. De’Anthony Thomas played 68 percent of the team’s snaps against Dallas, with rookie Jehu Chesson playing just four snaps.
Defensive tackle Bennie Logan again appeared on the injury report this week. The team listed him as a full participant with a knee issue. But Logan said it’s a calf injury that caused him to miss practice time.
“It’s not my knee, it’s my quad,” Logan said. “It’s doing a lot better though. The bye week helped a lot, so definitely better.”
Center Mitch More (foot) and tight end Demetrius Harris (shoulder) appeared on the injury this week as full participants and both expect to play Sunday.
The Giants lineup Sunday without starting left guard Justin Pugh, who has a back injury. But most of the team’s injuries hit on the defensive side of the ball, especially up the middle.
Starting middle linebacker BJ. Goodson won’t play with an ankle injury, while backup Kelvin Sheppard (groin) is doubtful Starting defensive tackle Damon Harrison (ankle) and starting outside linebacker Devon Kennard (quad) are both questionable.
NEW YORK GIANTS
OUT: LB B.J. Goodson and OL Justin Pugh
DOUBTFUL: LB Kelvin Sheppard
QUESTIONABLE: DT Damon Harrison and LB Devon Kennard
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: LB B.J. Goodson (ankle), OL Justin Pugh (back) and CB Eli Apple (not injury related)
Limited participation: DT Damon Harrison (ankle), LB Kelvin Sheppard (groin), CB Donte Deayon (ankle), G D.J. Fluker (knee), LB Devon Kennard (quad), LB Calvin Munson (quad), Jason Pierre-Paul (knee), and DT Dalvin Tomlinson (ankle)
Full participation: None
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OUT: LB Dee Ford, LB Tamba Hali, DE Allen Bailey and WR Albert Wilson
DOUBTFUL: None
QUESTIONABLE: None
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: LB Dee Ford (back), LB Tamba Hali (knee), DE Allen Bailey (knee) and WR Albert Wilson (hamstring)
Limited participation: None
Full participation: DT Bennie Logan (knee), Demetrius Harris (shoulder), C Mitch Morse (foot) and TE Ross Travis (ankle)
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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