After being eliminated from playoff contention, the Kansas City Chiefs have every reason to protect their best players in the final three games of the season. This includes cornerback Trent McDuffie, who, according to The Kansas City Star's Pete Sweeney, returned to the practice field on Thursday. While having McDuffie on the practice field is far from putting the corner back into game action, it is clear that this is a step in that direction. One that the Chiefs cannot afford to take lightly, with McDuffie's future with the organization remaining a question mark.
Already, there has been speculation that the star corner could become an offseason trade chip. This makes sense when you consider how Kansas City has managed its secondary and the need to reset the roster. Paying McDuffie long-term no longer fits what the Chiefs need to build. There must be an influx of youth and a roster reset after the level of failure fans saw this season.
McDuffie should be included in this as a very real trade possibility that would help reset the roster. With this in mind, there is no reason to risk the health of the corner or his level of play going into a pivotal offseason. You don't want to see McDuffie do anything to lessen his value by struggling over the home stretch of the 2025 regular season. This, along with the injury risk, should be more than enough to keep the corner off the field.
Trent McDuffie's Surprise Practice Return Shouldn't Mean He Plays Week 16
McDuffie being put back on the field doesn't make sense when the Chiefs are no longer trying to win games. If anything, the franchise should be looking to finish out the final trio of games in losing fashion in an effort to improve their draft positioning. The franchise already has a chance to make an impact pick in the 2025 draft, currently holding the 14th overall selection.
It is possible that the franchise could move down a couple of slots, providing further motivation to bench your best players. Not only are you protecting your core pieces, but you're also better setting up the future of the franchise by giving the team a great chance to improve draft positioning while not putting those valued roster pieces in harm's way.
Even if McDuffie isn't going to be dealt in the offseason, the logic stands in the fact that you don't want your starting corner on the field coming off injury in games that don't matter. These next three games should be considered an extension of the preseason, a chance to see young and fringe roster pieces that have something to prove. This obviously counts McDuffie out and should protect the corner from taking the field for the restof the 2025 season.