Chiefs Star Cornerback Ruled Out Along With Jets' Key Receiver

The Kansas City Chiefs won’t have their top cornerback against the New York Jets on Sunday, but the coverage issue may turn out to be a wash given that the Jets have also ruled out receiver Garrett Wilson, according to a report from Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. 

Delane’s injury isn’t unexpected, but at this point it’s fair to wonder if it isn’t going to ruin the cornerback’s rookie year. Delane has played well when he’s been able to stay on the field, but this injury continues to make a big impact. 

It’s also not the injury we thought it was initially. Delane sustained it during OTAs, and he wasn’t able to make it back on to the field for OTAs. That didn’t seem like a big deal, but the cornerback continued to sport a yellow non-contact jersey during training camp. 

All seemed well when Delane finally got on the field in the Chiefs opener and made a pivotal interception on the first defensive series  as the Kansas City routed Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos. But he soon left the lineup again, and thas was when we first learned the real nature of this injury. 

Delane doesn’t have a typical shoulder injury. Most of those are separations and some are classified as sprains, and while those situations can be dicey, it’s usually not that hard to get back on the field. 

But Delane has a hairline fracture of his scapula, and that’s a much tougher recovery. It probably won’t matter much against the Jets, and the Chiefs may be able to nurse it through the softer part of their schedule, but they have a brutal stretch run coming and they'll need him back badly. 

Wilson, meanwhile, has been in the concussion protocol, and he didn’t practice on Wednesday and Thursday, per a separate report from Alper, so this news isn’t surprising. Wilson was finally targeted in the Jets’ 38-33 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, but now he won’t be available. 

But Adonai Mitchell will, and he’ll be covered by Chiefs’ corners Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton, although Fulton is rumored to be on the trade block. 

The big issue for the Chiefs will be getting their pass rush going against quarterback Geno Smith, but they also won’t have defensive tackle Peter Woods in this game, as he’s been ruled out due to a neck injury. That will put the spotlight squarely back on defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has just 0.5 sacks so far this season.