Anthony Hitchens injury update: Chiefs linebacker hurts ribs against Broncos

The Kansas City Chiefs saw inside linebacker Anthony Hitchens go down with an injury during the second half of their game against the Denver Broncos.

The Kansas City Chiefs have been hurting at linebacker all season despite a complete overhaul in the offseason. Now those needs will be exacerbated with the news that Anthony Hitchens was taken to the locker room to look at an injury.

On Sunday, Hitchens was injured while playing in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.  The official word is that he is doubtful to return after suffering a rib injury.

Hitchens is the leading tackler for the Chiefs after signing a five year deal with the team in free agency worth $9 million per year. Hitchens joined newcomer Reggie Ragland, who was acquired via trade before the 2017 season, as a completely new tandem for a team that had relied on Derrick Johnson in the middle for more than a decade. So far the results have been middling despite the money for Hitchens although he’d flashed great potential at times.

Now the Chiefs turn to undrafted free agent Ben Niemann to occupy his spot in the middle. Together with fellow rookie Dorian O’Daniel, who was taken in the third round of this year’s draft, the Chiefs will have to hope to pull together enough plays from unlikely sources to help stop the run and maintain the lead.

What hurts even further is that other linebackers are already out. Frank Zombo, an outside linebacker, was lost in the game and will not return as he was declared out as well. Justin Houston is already sitting this game out and it’s uncertain when he will return to the line-up as well.

Hitchens has 63 tackles on the season for the Chiefs, including five for a loss.