The Chiefs left Week 9 with more than one issue to sort through, and Andy Reid spent Monday trying to put some shape around the mess. Patrick Mahomes is dealing with an elbow injury, Harrison Butker’s kicking struggles are still hanging over the team, and the injury list keeps growing at positions Kansas City can least afford to thin out.
Mahomes was the headline. The quarterback finished the game against the Jets, but he was clearly hurting after taking a shot to the elbow while throwing in the second quarter.
He grimaced coming up after hitting Jets pass rusher David Bailey, then spent the rest of the game working with trainers. After the game, Mahomes tried to keep the tone upbeat, though he also acknowledged more testing was coming.
An MRI reportedly showed no major damage, and Reid said the quarterback is now “day-to-day now.”
“It was more positive news than negative news on Patrick. It looks like it’s just a matter of some rehab in there and getting rid of some of the soreness.
We’ll just see where it goes from there, but he’s in good spirits today. I have seen him today.”
The kicker situation remains unresolved. Butker missed two long field goals on Sunday, one of them officially, and the Chiefs have already added Justin Tucker to the practice squad. Even so, Reid stopped short of making any immediate move on Monday.
“With Butker, I haven’t made any decisions yet. I’m gonna evaluate everything and go forward from there.
Again, I haven’t decided on reps during practice. I haven’t done any of that right now.
Just going through and evaluating and we’ll go from there.”
There were also fresh concerns at receiver and tackle. Xavier Worthy left with a hamstring injury and did not return, while Jaylon Moore exited with an ankle issue after already missing time in concussion protocol. Reid labeled both players “day-to-day,” saying, “Xavier, with the hamstring, again, more day-to-day and likewise with the ankle with Jaylon.”
Worthy’s situation may be the one to watch most closely. Hamstring injuries can linger, especially for receivers, and the Chiefs are already thin at that spot.
Reid also offered a brief update on left tackle Josh Simmons, who remains on injured reserve with a back injury. Asked how the rookie was progressing, Reid kept it short: “Yeah, he’s doing good.”
Simmons is eligible to return after Week 11, but Reid did not give any indication that a return is close, or even certain, this season.
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