Report: Joe Mays Will Return To Practice In Next Two Weeks

Slowly but surely, the Chiefs are getting back some of their missing parts.

Joe Mays, who has missed the entire season to date because of a wrist injury, is expected to return to practice within the next two weeks, according to a tweet from Adam Caplan. Here’s said Twitter evidence:

Kansas City is in desperate need for linebacker depth and support against the run after losing Mike DeVito and Derrick Johnson in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans. Teams with physical running games have been able to gash the Chiefs in the middle of the field as a result of not having those two players, plus Mays and Eric Berry, around. The return of Mays plus the expected return of Berry in the next week or two should help the Chiefs rush defense out tremendously.

This is also big news for the Chiefs when it comes to special teams. One area that has been hurt badly by all of the injuries and suspensions has been the special teams unit, which, while good, hasn’t lived up to what the unit contributed last season. Part of this is because key special teams contributors have been forced into starting roles on offense or defense. Guys like Knile Davis, Josh Mauga, James-Michael Johnson, and Ryan Harris have either been pulling double-duty or have been removed from the special teams coverage or return units because of injuries to starters. The more depth the Chiefs can return, the more that should help improve the quality of the Chiefs special teams play.

One would assume it would take a few weeks for Mays to get back in shape before he would see the field again. By rule, Mays cannot return to the field until after week eight of the season so the soonest he can play again would be against the New York Jets at Arrowhead in week nine. That may be enough time for him to get his legs under him but one would think a week 10 return against the Buffalo Bills on the road would be the more likely scenario.

Get a win on Sunday in San Diego and then start returning players like Donald Stephenson, Eric Berry, De’Anthony Thomas, Chris Owens, and Mays to the lineup on a weekly basis then maybe the Chiefs could make a strong run for a playoff spot.