Chiefs injury report: Willie Gay, Jerick McKinnon sit on Wednesday
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs are in the midst of preparation for Week 9 and the final game before they hit the bye week, but in between a well-earned rest and the present is a very important game for both the league and the teams involved against the Miami Dolphins.
This week, the Chiefs and Dolphins are meeting in what will be the most meaningful internationally-scheduled game yet for the National Football League. Both teams are 6-2 and this game is an important one toward establishing the pecking order in a crowded field of competitors in the AFC.
The Chiefs are missing some key contributors early in practice heading into Week 9.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they're dealing with a few injuries that are making some positions look quite thin going into a vital matchup.
Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. is currently sitting out of practice on Wednesday of this week due to a tailbone injury suffered in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos. Gay was forced to leave in the second half of the game, and while he was designated as questionable to return, he finished the game on the sidelines.
It looks like Gay could miss further action, which only makes the linebacker position as a whole that much more vulnerable. The Chiefs are already missing Nick Bolton in the heart of the defense and he's landed on injured reserve with a given timeline of two months to sit, which means Kansas City won't get him back until late December.
As for running back, Jerick McKinnon is once again sitting out of practice to start the week due to a groin injury. Fortunately for the Chiefs, he was ready to go a week ago after missing time, but if he's not ready, the team is not exactly deep here behind lead back Isiah Pacheco.
The only other player limited in practice to start the week is punter Tommy Townsend who is dealing with a hand injury.