Chiefs Start Clock On Joe Mays
By Ben Nielsen
Kansas City now have 21 days to decide what to do with Joe Mays.
After missing the first seven games, Mays returned to the practice field for the first time since injuring his wrist in a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. His return means the Chiefs have 21 days to decide whether to add him to the 53-man roster or move him to the injured reserve list for the remainder of the season. Baring a setback, Mays should return sometime in the next few weeks.
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Mays has already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets so he will at least miss one more game. There is some though he could return for the road game against the Buffalo Bills a week from Sunday but that would be a stretch. It would seem the earliest realistic chance he could return would be the week 11 home game against the Seattle Seahawks, a game the Chiefs could desperately use him in.
Kansas City run defense has suffered a with both Derrick Johnson and Mays out of the lineup. Through seven games the Chiefs rank 18th in the NFL against the run based on yards allowed per game, though those numbers are inflated by terrible performances agains the Titans and 49ers.
Where they’ve really missed Mays has been against teams with power running games. The Dolphins, 49ers, and Titans all exposed the middle of the field with power rushing attacks, totaling 474 of the 790 rushing yards (60% of the rushing yards allowed) the Chiefs have allowed this season. Mays is a guy who could really help slow down the power running game. Add Eric Berry to the mix and the Chiefs should improve in that area as the season progresses.
Until then, though, the Chiefs are going to have to make due with Josh Mauga and James-Michael Johnson, both of whom have played well given the circumstances. But reinforcements are coming for the defense, and it couldn’t come at a better time.