Willie Gay Jr. is dealing with toe injury from KC Chiefs vs. Vikings

K.C. Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. has been dealing with a toe injury suffered from the team’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid updated reporters about the team’s overall health in a media session on Tuesday afternoon, shortly before roster cuts are due, and gave the news that Gay was sitting out of the team’s practice session to continue to heal up from the injury.

Gay has already dealt with some health concerns this preseason when he was in the team’s concussion protocol early in August. Despite missing time here and there, Gay looked sensational as a second-year linebacker ready to break out in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.

Willie Gay Jr. is ailing with a toe injury.

If Gay can make the leap in the regular season, it’s going to be a game-changer for the Chiefs, who have spent significantly on the linebacker corps in terms of draft assets to upgrade the overall defense. Gay and Nick Bolton are the results of consecutive second-round picks used on the position, which means the Chiefs are hoping for some proportional returns in the heart of the defense. The good news is that they looked as hoped in the preseason.

The Chiefs can take it easy with Gay for the time being with a sort of bye week coming before the regular season begins next week. For now, Gay has well over a week of rest ahead of him until the Chiefs host the visiting Cleveland Browns on Sunday, September 12  at Arrowhead Stadium to open the regular season.

In other injury news, center Austin Blythe continues to sit out of practice after having sports hernia surgery earlier in the month. Frank Clark is also making his way back from a hamstring injury.

Gay had 39 total tackles, 3 passes deflected, and 1 sack last year for the Chiefs in limited action.