Chiefs Will Have Two Key Players Out Against Chargers

The Kansas City Chiefs came up mostly on the wrong end of the injury report for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, as they’ll have two key players out while the Chargers will have two important players returning to their lineup. 

The Chiefs will be missing both left tackle Josh Simmons and receiver Rashee Rice, according to a report from Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. The news about Simmons was somewhat surprising as he returned to practice on a limited basis this week, but the Chiefs also have rookie tackle playing well in Simmons’ place.

Rice’s status has been a wild card for months now. He had a cleanup surgery that kept him out for much of training camp, and now he’s been struggling with a hamstring injury. He hasn’t missed a game, though, and Rice currently has 13 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown so far this season. 

His absence will raise more questions about if or when the Chiefs will go looking for a new receiver, as they lost speedster Tyquan Thornton to a serious ankle injury in their last game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4 before their bye week. 

The Chargers, meanwhile, still have plenty of injuries of their own to deal with, but they’ll also be getting back two key receivers, per a separate report from Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. Ladd McConkey (foot) and Quentin Johnston (chest) are both off the injury report and are set to play in Kansas City. 

McConkey has 12 receptions for 183 yards with a touchdown in four games this season, while Johnston has seven receptions for 108 yards in four games, so it’s safe to say the Chargers passing game will be better than it has been in recent weeks. 

But the Chargers have also ruled out safety Derwin James (hamstring), offensive tackle Joe Alt (neck), guard Kayode Awosika (fibula), receiver Tre Harris (hamstring), and cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring), per Simmons. Cornerback Rodney Shelley (hamstring) is doubtful after he didn’t practice over the last two days.

The list of players who come in as questionable is also lengthy. It includes Defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell (knee), outside linebacker Bud Dupree (neck), linebacker Daiyan Henley (knee), receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring), receiver Brenen Thompson (quad), and defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (hamstring). 

That makes this even more of a trap game for the Chiefs, as they’re undefeated against a winless team that will be trying to drop to 0-6 for the first time since 2000.