Chiefs Lose Two Cornerbacks To Injury As Key Receiver Returns

The Kansas City Chiefs secondary just got a lot thinner, but they’re getting a key receiver back for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. 

The Chiefs downgraded rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane to out with a shoulder injury, and the Chiefs have also placed cornerback L’Jarius Sneed on injured reserve, according a report from Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk and multiple other outlets. 

On offense, the news is about receiver Rashee Rice, who will be back in the lineup according to a report from Nate Taylor of ESPN. 

Rice will be returning from a hamstring injury he sustained against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Rice was able to participate in every practice this week, per reports, and he currently has 13 receptions on 16 targets for 190 yards and a touchdown. 

As for the two cornerbacks, Delane is the more serious injury by far. The rookie was Kansas City’s top draft choice with the No. 6 pick in the draft, and his shoulder has been an issue since OTAs. He wore a non-contact jersey for most of the summer, but Delane was able to get back on the field for the Chiefs’ opener against the Denver Broncos, and he had a big interception in Kansas City’s 31-10 romp. 

But Delane has been on and off the injury report for weeks now with this same issue, so the news isn’t exactly surprising. What was surprising, though, was coach Andy Reid revealing that the injury was a hairline fracture of his scapula. His stat line at the moment includes 27 tackles, an interception and five passes defended in five games this season.

Sneed’s situation is very different. He returned to Kansas City during the summer after a failed stint with the Tennessee Titans. His injury designation was personal/knee, but the personal part of this is new if there’s anything substantial to it. 

Sneed played well early, but he was badly exposed in Kansas City’s 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. The Seahawks picked on Sneed for most of the night, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba especially had some strong moments against the former Chiefs star. 

The Chiefs have also signed cornerback Melvin Smith to the active roster from the practice squad, and they activated defensive end Tyreke Smith from the practice squad to the game-day roster.

Kansas City is 5-1 going into Sunday’s contest at Denver, which is 5-2. with the two teams battling for the lead in the AFC West.