Let's take a look at the lists of inactive players for the Chargers and Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
The stretch run is here for the Kansas City Chiefs, a gauntlet of a final slate of five games, each of which is vital to the team's ability to maintain the pole position for the AFC's top seed. With it comes the joy of playing at home at Arrowhead Stadium throughout the postseason as well as the rare gift of a first-round bye—meaning a chance for ailing and fatigued players to actually rest for a week in the winter.
However, it's the "gauntlet" part of this that makes that so hard, and opponents will be doing their best to make the race more competitive. Future games include showdowns with the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and Pittsburgh Steelers—all playoff contenders themselves—but this Sunday Night Football showdown in Week 14 includes another team with postseason hopes. They also happen to be AFC West rivals.
The Los Angeles Chargers will be visiting Kansas City in Week 14 and the outcome here has the potential to seriously change the race in the AFC if the Bolts can come out with a road win. While they're still unlikely to catch the Chiefs in the West, the team's lead would be much slimmer and the scenarios to clinching would be that much more cluttered.
A Chiefs win on Sunday would lock up their ninth–yes, ninth—consecutive AFC West title with a month to spare.
Much of how tonight turns out will have to do with the health of the players involved, and for the Chargers, that means being reliant on their rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey to be able to play through some pain on Sunday.
#Chargers WR Ladd McConkey, dealing with an AC joint injury in his shoulder and a sprained knee, is a true game-time decision, sources say. He's listed as questionable and the team hopes to give him right up to 90 minutes before kickoff.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 8, 2024
McConkey is the primary decision facing Jim Harbaugh's team as to inactive players and how best to handle the game's demands. Linebacker Junior Colson was also listed as questionable for the game along with safety Tony Jefferson. The good news is that Cam Hart should be available after facing injury questions, which will really bolster the defense.
As for the Chiefs, it should be the debut of D.J. Humphries at left tackle after the concerning performances of an ailing Wanya Morris and an inexperienced Kingsley Suamataia. In addition, running back Isiah Pacheco and pass rusher Charles Omenihu are still working their way back from injury so it will be interesting to watch their workload.
Week 14 - Chiefs inactive players
- Kingsley Suamataia, OL
- Ethan Driskell, OL
- Josh Uche, EDGE
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB
- C.J. Hanson, OL
- Marlon Tuipulotu, DL
- Malik Herring, DL
Week 14 - Chargers inactive players
- Ladd McConkey, WR
- Easton Stick, QB
- Tony Jefferson, S
- Denzel Perryman, LB
- Jordan McFadden, OL
- Brenden Jaimes, OL
- Justin Eboigbe, DL