Anthony Hitchens injury update: Chiefs linebacker has ‘hyperextended elbow’ per report
By Matt Conner
According to a report from Jeremy Fowler, the Kansas City Chiefs have learned that linebacker Anthony Hitchens suffered a hyperextended elbow on Sunday in the team’s win over the Washington Football Team.
The Chiefs watched Hitchens leave during the game’s second half with a clear injury to his arm but it wasn’t immediately clear what was wrong. However, the Chiefs did designate Hitchens as out for the game following the injury as he continued to work with medical staff back in the locker room.
Hitchens is a reliable figure in the middle of the Chiefs defense who represents the most experienced and stable performer there. The Chiefs have promising youth at linebacker after making back-to-back second-round investments in both Willie Gay Jr. and Nick Bolton in each of the last two draft classes. However, Hitchens is responsible for relaying information from the sideline and making sure guys are lined up properly before the play as well as his obvious responsibilities as a linebacker.
Anthony Hitchens has reportedly suffered a hyperextended elbow injury.
Prior to the 2018 season, general manager Brett Veach signed Hitchens to a five-year deal worth up to $45 million to help replace Derrick Johnson in the heart of the team’s defense. From there, Hitchens has surely but steadily grown into the role of reliable captain and communicator in the middle for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
So far this season, Hitchens has started in all six games for the Chiefs with 31 total tackles to his credit on the year, including two of them for a loss. He also has one pass deflection. Hitchens has averaged 15 starts per season since he landed with the Chiefs.
If the Chiefs have to turn to the practice squad for some help with depth, they have Christian Rozeboom, Darius Harris, and Elijah Sullivan as options.
