Chiefs' wide receiver injury situation goes from bad to worse ahead of Week 5 tilt with Saints
The Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints continue to practice and prepare for their Week 5 game on "Monday Night Football." In just a day, Kansas City''s injury situation at the wide receiver position has gone from bad to worse. In the first injury report of the week on Thursday, the Chiefs listed WR Mecole Hardman […]
The Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints continue to practice and prepare for their Week 5 game on "Monday Night Football."
In just a day, Kansas City''s injury situation at the wide receiver position has gone from bad to worse. In the first injury report of the week on Thursday, the Chiefs listed WR Mecole Hardman as a limited participant in practice. He was available to speak with the media in the locker room ahead of practice, which suggested he suffered his injury during practice. That appears to be the case as Hardman was downgraded to a non-participant in practice on Friday, the team announced.
The Chiefs have just four healthy wide receivers on the 53-man roster with WRs Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice on injured reserve. The healthy players are Xavier Worthy, Juju Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson, and Skyy Moore.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub gave a few options who could fill in for Hardman at punt returner should he be unable to play on Monday night.
"We have a number of guys that can do it," Toub said. "Nikko (Remigio) can do it. (Montrell) Washington could do it. Any of those two guys could possibly (be elevated from the practice squad) if Mecole (Hardman) is down. (Xavier) Worthy could be a punt returner. Skyy Moore. We have a lot of options there."
Here's a look at the second injury report of the week for both teams. . .
Second Chiefs Injury Report
| Player | Injury | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|
LB Nick Bolton | Hamstring | FP | FP |
DE Mike Danna | Calf | LP | LP |
RB Kareem Hunt | Shoulder | LP | LP |
WR Mecole Hardman | Knee | LP | DNP |
DT Derrick Nnadi | Triceps | FP | FP |
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (NFI) | Illness | LP | LP |
KEY: DNP = Did not participate | LP = Limited participation | FP = Full participation | NIR = Not injury related
Observations:
- We won't get game status designations until tomorrow, but Kareem Hunt and Mike Danna are still limited. It's reasonable to brace for a questionable game status designation for each player.
- Andy Reid mentioned a bit of an acclimation period for Clyde Edwards-Helaire in his return from the NFI list. Consecutive limited practices could be part of the plan for No. 25 as he gets into football shape.
Second Saints Injury Report
| Player | Injury | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|
LB Willie Gay Jr. | Hand | DNP | DNP |
TE Taysom Hill | Ribs | DNP | DNP |
OL Cesar Ruiz | Knee | DNP | DNP |
OL Shane Lemieux | Ankle | DNP | DNP |
DE Payton Turner | Knee | DNP | DNP |
K Blake Grupe | Right Hip | DNP | FP |
T Taliese Fuaga | Back | LP | LP |
RB Alvin Kamara | Hip/Ribs | LP | LP |
TE Juwan Johnson | Forearm | LP | FP |
DT Bryan Bresee | Ankle | LP | LP |
RB Kendre Miller | Hamstring | LP | FP |
LB Demario Davis | Hamstring | LP | LP |
WR Chris Olave | Hamstring | FP | FP |
WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. | Ankle | FP | FP |
OL Lucas Patrick | Groin | – | DNP |
KEY: DNP = Did not participate | LP = Limited participation | FP = Full participation | NIR = Not injury related
Observations:
- WR AT Perry is no longer on the injury report because he was released.
- K Blake Grupe, TE Juwan Johnson, and RB Kendre Miller all saw status upgrades to full participation on Friday.
- OL Lucas Patrick is a new addition to the injury report with a groin injury. That leaves the Saints without their top three options at the center position and led to the team signing OL Connor McGovern, who could start at center this week.
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