Former Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz got the start for Minnesota in Week 9, and it went about as badly as possible.
With Kyler Murray apparently not starting, Wentz stepped in for his second start of the season and turned in a rough outing against Buffalo. He finished 8 of 25 for 81 yards with two interceptions. ESPN Insights on X noted, "Wentz' 8.9 passer rating is the lowest by any player (min. 25 att) since Sam Darnold was "seeing ghosts" against the Patriots in 2019 (3.6)."
Minnesota’s defense did its part, hounding Josh Allen all night, but the Vikings’ offense could only manage six points. For Wentz, it was another ugly chapter in a career that has never fully recovered since the Eagles moved on from him in 2021. A player who once looked like an MVP-level talent in 2017 is now fighting to prove he can still be a dependable backup.
Cairo Santos, meanwhile, delivered the kind of moment Chiefs fans know all too well from his Kansas City days. After Harrison Butker missed a field goal on Sunday afternoon - even after getting a second try from five yards closer - Santos came through for Chicago later that night.
The Bears kicker drilled the game-winning 38-yard field goal against the Buccaneers despite Chicago coughing up the ball five times. Santos spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Chiefs and was steady in that role before Butker eventually replaced him in 2017 after Santos was injured. Since then, he has carved out a home in Chicago and added another clutch kick to his résumé.
Former Chiefs punter Jack Fox also had a moment to remember for Detroit. Fox, who spent time on Kansas City’s practice squad in 2019 before being released in November and later landing with the Lions, helped keep a drive alive with a fake punt early in the second quarter.
Facing fourth-and-7 from their own 19-yard line, Detroit lined up to punt, but Fox took the snap and hit Tay Martin for 11 yards and a first down. Five plays later, he punted for real. The Lions’ PR team also noted during the game that Fox is now 5-of-6 as a passer.
Gardner Minshew’s week ended on a far less positive note. The Chiefs signed him last year to back up Patrick Mahomes, but after joining the Cardinals this offseason as Jacoby Brissett’s backup, he finally got a shot when Brissett was benched in Week 8.
Minshew responded by throwing three touchdown passes and helping spark Arizona’s comeback, which led to Brissett being traded to the Ravens and Minshew taking over. But now he has suffered a torn UCL and could miss the rest of the season.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Face A Backfield Question Before Falcons Matchup
A late-week injury note has added a little uncertainty to Kansas Citys backfield ahead of its matchup with Atlanta. Kenneth Walker was held out of practice Friday because of a tight groin and is now listed as questionable, giving the Chiefs one more thing to monitor as they prepare for a game that comes with plenty of attention for a team sitting at 6-2.
Andy Reid offered updates on Walkers condition as the Chiefs worked through their final prep, and the timing matters with the roster already seeing movement elsewhere. Kansas City recently added wide receiver Josh Downs from the Indianapolis Colts, so the offense is adjusting on multiple fronts while trying to keep its momentum intact against the Falcons. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Suddenly Have A Familiar Late-Season Receiver Question
Marquise Brown is suddenly back on the market, with the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly waiving the veteran receiver after just four appearances this season. Brown signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia in March after spending the previous two seasons with the Chiefs, so his availability immediately brings a familiar name back into the conversation for Kansas City at a time when receiver depth always draws extra attention.
If Brown is claimed off waivers, he will finish the season elsewhere, which leaves the Chiefs to watch a situation that feels a little too familiar for this time of year. Even without any certainty about where he lands, his exit from Philadelphia reopens a late-season question Kansas City knows well: whether a former contributor might become part of the picture again when the stretch run gets tight. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Get A Familiar Sunday Broadcast For Rare Falcons Trip
The Chiefs rare trip to Atlanta comes with a familiar Sunday afternoon feel, at least for viewers back home. Kansas City will face the Falcons at noon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the game will air locally on KCTV (Ch. 5) with CBS Sports top broadcast team on the call.
For a team that has spent much of the season in the national spotlight, the broadcast assignment is another reminder of how closely every Chiefs game is being watched. The Week 10 slate also comes with a full set of NFL broadcast pairings, but this one stands out because of the matchup itself, with Kansas City heading to a building it does not visit often and trying to handle business on the road in a spot that has not been kind to the franchise in years. [Read more 🡒]