KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs game plan for the Carolina Panthers looks to include running back Spencer Ware, but the team begins preparations for this week’s road trip without starting wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and defensive lineman Jaye Howard.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin checks in with the sideline during the team’s 27-21 win over the New Orleans Saints at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 23, 2016. (Nick Tre. Smith/Special to The Topeka Capital-Journal)
“We’ll take them day-by-day and just see how they do,” Reid said.
New additions to the Chiefs injury report include quarterback Nick Foles (right elbow), wide receiver Chris Conley (quad) and linebacker Justin Houston (knee). All appear limited on the injury report.
Houston did not appear on injury reports earlier in the season while on the PUP list. His listing with a knee designation is consistent with his recovery from offseason knee surgery.
Maclin played just two snaps Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars before aggravating a groin strain. Howard continues to be limited with a hip flexor strain, but 41 defensive naps against Jacksonville.
Reid indicated Monday that Maclin’s injury could linger and impact the pass catcher’s available for the Panthers game and beyond.
“It could, it easily could yeah,” Reid said.
Ware sustained a concussion against the team’s week 8 game against the Indianapolis Colts. He did not clear the NFL’s concussion protocol before Sunday’s game against Jacksonville.
Reid indicated Ware was cleared to practice, and the team later confirmed the running back completed all five stages of the league’s concussion protocol and received clearance from an unaffiliated neurological consultant.
His return hopes to add punch to a Chiefs rushing attacked that lacked explosiveness against Jacksonville. Charcandrick West led the team with 12 rushes for 39 yards. The team averaged jus 2.8 yards per carry while gaining 62 yards on the ground. That marked the team’s lowest rushing output since tallying 57 yards against the Minnesota Vikings in week six of the 2015 season.
Veteran linebacker Tamba Hali also did not practice as per his normal workout schedule.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: DT Vernon Butler (ankle), LB Jeremy Cash (illness), C Gino Gradkowski (knee), S Colin Jones (concussion), C Ryan Kalil (shoulder), DT Kyle Love (knee), T Michael Oher (concussion), RB Jonathan Stewart (rest) and LB Shaq Thompson (knee)
Limited participation: None
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: LB Tamba Hali (knee), DE Jaye Howard (hip) and WR Jeremy Maclin (groin)
Limited participation: QB Nick Foles (elbow), LB Justin Houston (knee), WR Chris Conley (quad), LB Derrick Johnson (hamstring) and CB D.J. White (hand)
Full participation: QB Alex Smith (head/ear) and RB Spencer Ware (concussion)
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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