The Kansas City Chiefs will make quick work of any celebration following Week 12. While a win over the Indianapolis Colts was essential, the truth of the matter is that they can ill afford to lose any game going forward, and another is coming in a matter of days. In fact, the Chiefs have the shortest week of rest coming after Sunday's win, since they must visit Dallas on Thursday as part of the NFL's Thanskgiving slate of games.
Given the lack of recovery time, the Chiefs' injury list following Week 12 is more important than normal. Players who are questionable at this point are more likely to be out without an extra three days to recuperate. For a team still on the ropes, that's not good.
The Chiefs lost a few players to injury on Sunday against the Colts, and Andy Reid didn't offer much in the way of updates. Here's what we know about those hurting at Arrowhead and facing a quick turnaround to try to play again so soon.
Trey Smith
The Chiefs' Pro Bowl guard already missed a game earlier this season due to back spasms and there was a very clear difference without the team's tough mauler up front clearing room in the interior. Against the Colts, Smith was forced to leave with an ankle injury and was declared out. That's tough sledding in a short week for the Chiefs.
Immediately following the game, head coach Andy Reid didn't have any updates on Smith and admitted the team would take things a day at a time there. However, it's hard to imagine K.C. allows Smith to suit up in four short days. The safest bet is that Mike Caliendo will be manning the right guard position when the Chiefs visit Dallas to open Week 13.
Noah Gray
Noah Gray came up big for the Chiefs with a leaping fourth-quarter grab, but trainers were immediately called to the scene after he landed on the ground. Gray would leave the game from there, and Andy Reid said the team's backup tight end was dealing with a head injury in his post-game updates.
Any sort of evaluative period for Gray is likely going to take some time, although it's possible the Chiefs get quick word as to whether or not he has a concussion. But it might be safest to sit him in Week 13 and go with Bob Tonyan and Jared Wiley instead behind Travis Kelce. By the way, if Wiley is active, it would be his first official action since before a season-ending injury suffered during his rookie season last October.
Christian Roland Wallace
For those who've not noticed, Christian Roland-Wallace has been coming on strong in the secondary. The Chiefs have given him some of Jaden Hicks' expected reps and he's always been a favorite core performer for assistant head coach Dave Toub on special teams. After Sunday's win over the Colts, however, Reid said that Roland-Wallace was dealing with lower-back pain.
Nothing more was made known at this point, but his importance on the depth chart and on special teams would be a bigger loss than some fans might realize if he's unable to play on Thursday.