KC Chiefs: Injuries may end perfect record with trip to New England
By Mike Norris
It was a rough day for the defense after the Jacksonville win, so much so the Chiefs ended with one healthy outside linebacker, per Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star.
Injuries to Justin Houston, Tanoh Kpassagno and Dee Ford caused all three to miss at least part of the victory.
Ford and Kpassagno should play this weekend, according to Pryor, but Houston is most likely out, leaving rookie Breeland Speaks as the only fully healthy outside linebacker on the roster.
That was until the Chiefs signed two linebackers this week, according to Pryor.
Former Chiefs linebacker Frank Zambo and former Cleveland Browns linebacker Nate Orchard were added to the roster for depth.
Zambo has recorded 12.5 sacks in an eight-year career that included the past five with Kansas City, while Orchard has five in four seasons since being selected in the second round of the 2015 draft.
It’s never ideal to rely on a player the Browns cut or one you didn’t think was good enough to play for you, but the Chiefs don’t have much of a choice right now.
In addition to the injured linebackers, the Chiefs placed rookie safety Armani Watts on IR, All-Pro safety Eric Berry is doubtful and fellow safety Eric Murray will miss the game with an injury. There was some good news as Kpassagnon did return to practice on Friday, per Pryor.
Watts, who had played in all five games this season with one sack and one pass defended, was starting to look more and more comfortable each game before suffering a core muscle injury that will keep him out at least eight weeks.
The former Texas A&M Aggie tweeted on Thursday that he’s on the road to recovery.
https://twitter.com/GGPR_BANGER5/status/1050393405359034370
Against the Patriots, the Chiefs will be looking to third-year safety Jordan Lucas to step up and make his first career start in three seasons, along with veteran Ron Parker. Lucas, a former Miami Dolphin, who came to Kansas City this season, nabbed his first interception in the win over Jacksonville.
Lucas also married his fiance Taylor a day after his big game.
That’s a lot of growing up for a young man both on and off the field in less than a week, but you can be sure Brady and the Patriots will be looking to exploit a defender making his first start on the road in prime time.