The Kansas City Chiefs saw cornerback Morris Claiborne and guard Andrew Wylie return to practice on Wednesday.
For an NFL team with legitimate postseason goals, there are two primary approaches to player health as the regular season endures: avoid major season-ending injuries as best you can each week and nurse the short-term injuries back to full-strength when it matters most at season’s end. For the Kansas City Chiefs, a nice timeline has formed after a tough regular season marked by numerous key injuries to star players.
After suffering through myriad injuries to players like quarterback Patrick Mahomes, defensive linemen Chris Jones and Frank Clark, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs have witnessed each and every one of those players return to form at the right time. Now even recently injured players like starting guard Andrew Wylie and cornerback Morris Claiborne are returning to practice for the team after missing multiple weeks.
Wylie and Claiborne were both listed as limited participants in practice for the Chiefs on Wednesday as the team prepares to face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The Chiefs already have the AFC West wrapped but a first-round bye is still on the line if the Chiefs win out and the New England Patriots lose.
Claiborne’s return would give the Chiefs a full depth chart at cornerback going into the postseason. The longtime Cowboys defender plays limited snaps for K.C. but provides experience and depth at a position that was once the team’s biggest weakness.
As for Wylie, the team has veteran Stefen Wisniewski able to step in at left guard, but again it’s about the best starting five possible. Wylie’s return allows for head coach Andy Reid to employ any combination he wants up front based on ability and opponent. Wylie has 11 starts at left guard this year for the Chiefs.