Sammy Watkins, Mitchell Schwartz remain sidelined for Chiefs vs. Panthers

Both Sammy Watkins and Mitchell Schwartz continue to miss games for the Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs are going to go yet another week without two of their best contributors on offense with the news that both wide receiver Sammy Watkins and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz would be inactive for the team’s scheduled game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9.

The Chiefs have been without Watkins for the the last three games already and this will be his fourth game missed due to a hamstring injury that has kept him completely out of practice as well for weeks. He recently returned to practice only a few days ago, but he’s either not fully ready to take official snaps or the Chiefs are playing it safe against the Panthers. On the season, Watkins has played in 5 games and has 21 catches for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns.

As for Schwartz, the team’s right tackle had the NFL’s longest consecutive games started streak until he experienced back pain enough that forced him to miss both Week 7 and 8 for the Chiefs. He left the team’s win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 6 due to some back injury and he’s been out ever since. Schwartz will have the bye week to rest and recover, as will Watkins, after Sunday’s game against the Panthers.

Other players who are inactive for the Chiefs on Sunday include linebacker Darius Harris, defensive end Demone Harris, safety Tedric Thompson, tight end Ricky Seals-Jones and defensive lineman Khalen Saunders. Saunders came back healthy for a game after suffering an elbow dislocation that kept him out for the first half of the year, but clearly he wasn’t ready to return just yet either.