The K.C. Chiefs got their first real injury/illness scare of the 2021 season with the news that star safety Tyrann Mathieu has tested positive for COVID-19. The team placed him on the reserve/COVID list in response.
#Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu tested positive and is going on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, per the transaction wire.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 1, 2021
If there’s any good news here, it’s that the Chiefs are now facing well over a week until they have to suit up and host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, September 12 to open the regular season at Arrowhead Stadium. That’s a lot of time for Mathieu to try to put together enough positive tests and follow protocols enough for a return, but nothing is certain here and that means the Chiefs could be without one of their top defenders.
No further details have been given about context or any other contract tracing measures at this point.
Mathieu is coming into the contract season for the Chiefs and one of the biggest subjects on the table for the front office at this stage is whether or not they are going to offer a contract extension soon or not. General manager Brett Veach has been forward in that it will take some time but no one wants Mathieu to play for anyone else, regardless of the status of his present contract.
As for his impact, Mathieu’s potential for missing a game would be huge against a loaded team like the Cleveland Browns. While the Chiefs have more than enough talent to make up for any individual absence (other than Patrick Mahomes), the Browns field one of the AFC’s deepest rosters and are looking for revenge after being ousted in the 2020 postseason by the Chiefs.
Mathieu has been named All-Pro for consecutive seasons in his each of his first two years with the Chiefs. Last year he led the team with six interceptions.