Anthony Hitchens, Eric Fisher inactive for Chiefs vs. Texans
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs will be without several starting players as they face the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 6.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been dealing with a slew of injuries all this week, especially several lingering concerns, that makes it difficult to tell who will be able to officially play and who will not. Now with the release of the team’s inactives, the Chiefs finally know the players they will have to work with for their upcoming game against the visiting Houston Texans.
Week 6 is going to present a challenge given the offensive firepower of Deshaun Watson and company and the pass rush provided by J.J. Watt. That said, the task becomes even more daunting given the number of Chiefs forced to sit out today’s game.
The Chiefs will at least have Tyreek Hill returning to the lineup for the first time since the first quarter of Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Unfortunately, the offense still will not be at full strength. Here’s a list of the team’s inactive players and what it means for the game.
The loss of the team’s left tackle has caused a major hole on the right side of the line, especially since Andrew Wylie also went out last week. This game without both of them will be a major test for this roster to protect Patrick Mahomes and give him time to actually make plays down the field. Hopefully the newest signing to the roster, Stefen Wisniewski, will be prepared to play quickly for Andy Reid. Otherwise, things could get ugly pretty fast.
The Chiefs are missing their most athletic linebacker on a day in which the run defense was already going to be a problem they’re looking to fix. Hitchens certainly hasn’t lived up to the paychecks he’s cashing week to week, but no one is happy to see him out of the heart of the defense.
The Chiefs already knew they’d be sitting Watkins earlier this week, or at least likely would, since his status was doubtful for the game with a hamstring injury. Still it keeps Mahomes from having a full frontal assault at his disposal. Maybe next week.
The Chiefs also knew they’d be without Jones for this game and likely a few more as he deals with a core muscle injury. Given that Xavier Williams is also on injured reserve after last week’s game, the Chiefs will be tested in the middle. They need Khalen Saunders to make a major leap or at least come up with major plays even amid some predictable mistakes as they wait for Terrell McClain.
Greg Senat
The offensive lineman claimed from the Baltimore Ravens remains on the roster for reasons beyond our understanding.
The special teams player hasn’t been a force on this defense since he was drafted in the third round. This shouldn’t affect much of anything for the Chiefs.