Aug 17, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Junior Hemingway (88) misses a reception during the first half of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
OH, THOSE GUYS WHERE HURT TOO?
Five other players were listed with injuries but participated fully in practice. Those five were A.J. Jenkins (concussion), Junior Hemingway (hip), Albert Wilson (ankle), Vance Walker (hand), and Josh Martin (quad). Again, all of those players participated fully in practice.
Jenkins, Hemingway, and Wilson being healthy enough to be full participants in practice is huge given the one-game suspension of Dwayne Bowe. Bowe is missing week one due to his adventure at Sonic so the depth at wide receiver, something that is already lacking, was going to be tested early. Even missing just one of Jenkins, Hemingway, or Wilson would have meant the Chiefs would have gone into week one with four active wide receivers.
Instead, with Donnie Avery, Frankie Hammond Jr., Hemingway, Jenkins, and Wilson healthy, plus the stylings of De’Anthony Thomas to help with any wide receiver issues, the Chiefs should be okay for one week. Will it be pretty? Probably not, but at least Andy Reid will have some options.
Vance Walker’s injury is interesting from the stand point that I did not know he was injured. Walker should be a very valuable piece as an inside pass rusher for when the Chiefs are on the attack. The defensive line’s ability to attack in a rotation this season should prove to be extremely valuable, and Walker will be a big part of that rotation.