The Chiefs have placed Khalen Saunders on injured reserve.
The Kansas City Chiefs have placed defensive lineman Khalen Saunders on injured reserve as of Saturday, making official the rumored timeline that he would be out for a month.
Saunders suffered an elbow injury during the Chiefs win in Week 1 against the visiting Houston Texans, one of a few player losses suffered in that game.
By placing Saunders on injured reserve, the Chiefs free up his roster spot for another player—in this instance, it’s defensive tackle Braxton Hoyett from the practice squad—but that means that Saunders is not able to return for at least three full weeks. Some teams will avoid the use of IR if there’s any possible way for the injured player to return before that time, which signals the severity of Saunders’ injury.
The Chiefs drafted Saunders in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft and his first year was going to largely be a developmental season for a player coming from Western Illinois. Saunders’ blend of athleticism, strength, and size will remind some Chiefs fans of Dontari Poe, but it’s going to require significant reps in order to realize that sort of potential—if he can. Losing the early part of his second season will halt that progress at a key time.
That said, Saunders has pledged to come back strong as illustrated in the following tweet:
I’m coming back like a FUCKING MANIAC. #BeBackSoon.
— Saint Binky 2x (@khalenNOTkaylen) September 11, 2020
The Chiefs will be without Saunders in the defensive interior for the foreseeable future which places a greater burden on a starter like Derrick Nnadi. However, it also gives opportunity to a player like Hoyett or Tershawn Wharton for this week. The Chiefs also get Mike Pennel back from suspension after this Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.