Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is active for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos despite the onset of flu symptoms on Saturday, and he will have one of his favorite targets back in the lineup as well.
There was never any doubt Mahomes intended to play Sunday even after the Chiefs added him to their injury report with an illness. Mahomes reportedly ran a fever on Saturday and received IV treatments to address dehydration.
Joining him on the field Sunday will be wide receiver Justin Watson, who suffered an elbow injury against the Broncos in Week 7. That caused him to miss last week’s victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Watson will wear a brace on his left elbow to protect the injury.
Watson ranks third on the team with 219 yards receiving on the season on 17 targets with 10 catches. He’s been the team’s most prolific deep target, averaging 21.9 yards per reception.
His return means the Chiefs will have six receivers active for Sunday’s game: Watson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice, Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman.
Here’s the complete inactive list for the Chiefs against the Broncos:
- G/C Mike Caliendo
- DE BJ Thompson
- DE Malik Herring
- DT Mike Farrell
The Chiefs have only 51 players on the 53-player active roster heading into Sunday’s game. Linebacker Nick Bolton was placed on injured reserve Saturday, meaning he will miss at least the next four games. Receiver Justyn Ross was placed on the commissioner exempt list Friday after his arrest Monday on misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and criminal damage. He is ineligible to practice or attend games for the team while on the exempt list.
The Chiefs elevated safety Deon Bush for Sunday’s contest from the practice squad. He will likely pick up the slack on special teams with linebacker Drue Tranquill stepping into the starting lineup for Bolton.
The backup offensive linemen for Sunday are interior lineman Nick Allegretti and swing tackles Wanya Morris and Lucas Niang.
The Broncos inactive list for Sunday’s contest:
- C Alex Forsyth
- NT Keondre Coburn
- DE Elijah Garcia
- OLB Thomas Incoom
- S JL Skinner
Safety Kareem Jackson will also miss Sunday’s game while serving a two-game suspension for repeated violations of unnecessary roughness rules. The team also elevated wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith from the practice squad.
