A complete rundown of KC Chiefs injuries before Week 1
Out for an extended period of time
Blake Bell, tight end
The Chiefs veteran in-line tight end, blocking phenom Blake Bell had hip surgery in August putting his question for the season in doubt. It became relatively obvious after the team did not place him on IR at the time of the surgery that they’d wait to do so until after final roster cuts so that he could be reactivated later in the season once healthy. On Tuesday, the team did in fact keep him on the roster and indicated they would place him on IR this week. This means he’ll be eligible to come back after Week 4, but it’s to be determined when that might happen for sure.
Lucas Niang, offensive tackle
Kansas City placed 2020 third-round pick, oft-injured offensive tackle Lucas Niang on the Physically Unable to Perform list in August which ensures he’ll have time to get right but will not count against the team’s 53-man roster until they feel he’s ready. Because he never practiced this offseason, he did not need to be on the initial roster in order to be brought back later in the season (like Bell). That explains the procedural difference between the two. The former TCU Horned Frog has struggled to stay healthy and struggled to play effectively when he is, so we’ll see if he’s able to live up to the immense potential the Chiefs saw when they drafted him.
Status is in question for Week 1
Leo Chenal, linebacker
In a seemingly huge wave of head injuries plaguing the Chiefs right now, rookie linebacker Leo Chenal was added to the league’s Concussion Protocol this week, according to Reid on Tuesday. While we can assume he’ll be available Week 1, it’s often difficult to gauge when a player will return from the protocol.
Deon Bush, safety
Bush was held out of practice on Tuesday, and as far as we know there has not been a reason given as to why. We’ll monitor his status in the lead-up to the season opener.
Malik Herring, defensive end
Sidelined with an oblique injury, defensive end Malik Herring is firmly in question for Week 1’s contest against the Cardinals. Assuming that Clark and Dunlap (below) are healthy, it’s highly likely he’ll be a game-day inactive anyway. So, this may not matter at all (unless someone else is unable to go).
Frank Clark, defensive end
After missing the last couple of practices, head coach Andy Reid was asked about defensive end Frank Clark and he indicated that Clark was dealing with an illness. While one would not assume that it will keep him out of game one in Arizona, this has been a persistent problem for the pass rusher, so it’s something to keep an eye on as the team starts game prep in earnest.