With just days to go before their Christmas night showdown against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football, the Kansas City Chiefs' Week 17 injury report paints a picture of a team that’s both banged up and bracing for a crucial AFC West clash. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. Arrowhead Time, and while the lights will be bright, Kansas City’s depth will be tested under them.
Chiefs Rule Out Four Key Contributors for the Season
The biggest headline from Wednesday’s final injury report isn’t just who’s questionable - it’s who won’t be back at all this season.
The Chiefs officially placed four players on the Reserve/Injured list, effectively ending their 2025 campaigns. That list includes two starting-caliber wide receivers and two key contributors in the secondary:
- Rashee Rice (concussion)
- Tyquan Thornton (concussion)
- Trent McDuffie (knee)
- Jaylen Watson (groin)
That’s a significant blow on both sides of the ball. Rice had emerged as one of Patrick Mahomes’ most reliable targets, and Thornton brought much-needed speed to the perimeter. On defense, McDuffie has been a lockdown presence in the secondary, while Watson had carved out a valuable role in sub-packages.
With all four now shelved, Kansas City will have to shuffle its depth chart - and fast - ahead of a divisional matchup that could have major playoff implications.
Who’s Questionable for Thursday Night?
Five Chiefs carry the questionable tag heading into Thursday’s game, and the list includes a mix of starters and rotational pieces:
- Nikko Remigio (knee) - The young wideout practiced fully on Monday but didn’t participate on Tuesday or Wednesday. That’s a concerning trend for a player who could’ve been in line for a bigger role with Rice and Thornton out.
- Derrick Nnadi (illness) - The veteran defensive tackle was limited throughout the week.
If he can’t go, Kansas City’s interior D-line rotation gets a little thinner.
- George Karlaftis (illness) - Karlaftis didn’t appear on the injury report until Wednesday, when he was listed as limited. His presence off the edge has been huge this season, so his availability will be something to watch closely.
- Nick Bolton (illness) - Another late-week addition to the report, Bolton was limited on Wednesday. If he’s not at full strength, the Chiefs’ ability to contain Denver’s run game could take a hit.
- Jaylon Moore (knee) - The right tackle was limited Monday but managed full participation the rest of the week. He seems on track to play, but the knee issue is still worth monitoring.
Who’s Back - and Who’s Not (Yet)
There’s some good news, too. Tight end Jake Briningstool was a full participant this week but remains on the Reserve/Injured list due to a lingering hamstring issue. So while he’s trending in the right direction, he won’t be suiting up just yet.
On the flip side, Nazeeh Johnson has officially been activated from IR and is ready to roll. The versatile cornerback adds depth to a secondary that just lost two key contributors in McDuffie and Watson. Expect Johnson to see meaningful snaps right away.
Full Participants - Trending Toward Playing
Several other Chiefs practiced fully all week and are expected to be available Thursday night:
- Noah Gray (shoulder)
- Trey Smith (ankle)
- Esa Pole (knee)
- Kristian Fulton (knee/wrist)
- Nazeeh Johnson (shoulder)
- Mike Edwards (shoulder)
- Jake Briningstool (hamstring) - Full participant, but remains on IR
These are the kind of names that don’t always make headlines, but their presence - especially on a short week - helps stabilize a roster dealing with some real attrition.
The Bottom Line
Kansas City heads into Week 17 with a mix of optimism and concern. Losing four players to IR this late in the season is tough, especially when two of them are key wideouts and two are dependable defensive backs. But the Chiefs have been here before - adjusting on the fly, leaning on depth, and trusting their system.
With Mahomes under center and Steve Spagnuolo’s defense continuing to play at a high level, Kansas City still has the firepower to handle business against Denver. But make no mistake - health is becoming a storyline, and how the Chiefs navigate these next few weeks could define their playoff trajectory.
We’ll see who suits up come Thursday night under the Arrowhead lights.