Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid provided his typical pre-practice injury update to kick off the practice week ahead of their trip to Frankfurt, Germany to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. 

Only two players will be held out of practice to start the week and one player will be returning to action after missing the last six weeks with a knee injury. 

"As far as the injuries go, Jerick McKinnon, we're going to hold him out," Reid said. "He's got a sore groin that he's been battling for the past couple of weeks. Then, Willie Gay, with the low back contusion. So, he won't practice today. Getting better, but he won't practice."

What else do we know about the injury situation heading into this overseas clash with the Dolphins?

The return of Richie James:

The Chiefs have officially designated WR Richie James to return from injured reserve. 

"To add to the business side of it," Reid began. "Richie James, his practice window has been opened. So, he can practice and we'll just see how that goes."

The team will have 21 days to decide whether to activate him to the 53-man roster or keep him on injured reserve. 

Patrick Mahomes' hand and flu:

One of the developments during the Week 9 game that flew a bit under the radar is that Patrick Mahomes' left hand got stepped on and was cut up pretty badly during the Week 8 loss to the Broncos. That seems to be on the mend and nothing serious just like Mahomes said after the game.

"Well, he's doing better," Reid said. "It's getting better. Healing up. More contusions and scratches and cuts than anything else."

Also, don't expect to see Mahomes listed on the injury report with an illness in Week 9. Reid confirmed that the "flu is gone." 

Will Willie Gay Jr go on IR?

After the Chiefs went out and got Darius Harris from the Raiders' practice squad, it raised some questions about Willie Gay Jr. and his tailbone injury. The team doesn't seem ready to make the call on whether Gay Jr. needs to be placed on injured reserve quite yet.

"We'll see," Reid said. "I don't want to give you a yay or a nay. He's making progress right now, which is a good thing. I don't think it's that (bad), though."

So long as Gay Jr. continues to make progress and doesn't have any setbacks with what the team is calling a lower back contusion, he should be able to avoid IR. 

Check back later for the latest injury report from practice:

Player	Injury	Participation
RB Jerick McKinnon	Groin	DNP
LB Willie Gay Jr.	Lower back	DNP
P Tommy Townsend	Hand	LP
WR Skyy Moore	Heel	FP
WR Kadarius Toney	Toe	FP
S Mike Edwards	Elbow	FP
QB Patrick Mahomes	Left hand	FP
CB L’Jarius Sneed	Knee	FP
WR Justin Watson	Elbow	FP
WR Richie James (IR)	Knee	FP

KEY: DNP = Did not participate | LP = Limited participation | FP = Full participation | NIR = Not injury related

Observations:

• Tommy Towsend is the only player who was limited on Wednesday. He did seem to be shaken up after a play during Week 8, but it's unclear if this injury is related. Certainly, it's something to monitor with the team leaving for Germany on Thursday. 
• Skyy Moore popping up with a heel injury won't earn him any grace from the fanbase. 
• Richie James participating in full is a good sign that he could return as early as this week. 

For more information on the Dolphins' injury situation, check here.

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