Ideal Chiefs Trade Target Suffers Non-Contact Injury at Practice
![Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, center right, looks on with his staff during the fourth quarter of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 26-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_6000,h_3375,x_0,y_33/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F220%2F01jaggk7trsbewx2zmfp.jpg "Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, center right, looks on with his staff during the fourth quarter of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 26-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
On Tuesday, the NFL world was shaken by two blockbuster trades. The New York Jets traded for Davante Adams, while the Buffalo Bills traded for Amari Cooper. Unfortunately, the options are dwindling after Friday's surprise injury news.
Adams was never a true option for the Kansas City Chiefs since the Raiders are a division rival but Cooper could have been an option to help the injured wide receiver room. Both trades hurt the Chiefs two-fold since they improve conference opponents while taking away a potential new piece for Patrick Mahomes.
Fortunately, there are many other potential trade targets at wide receiver for the Chiefs. One of those options is Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
Through six weeks, Johnson has caught 52% (29/55) of his passes for 340 yards, three touchdowns, and averages 11.7 yards a catch. Although Jonhson hasn't had the most reliable hands this season, he has made plays with the ball in his hands.
Adding another veteran like Johnson to this wide receiver room allows Mahomes to take some of the weight off of his shoulders. However, according to Jeff Person of The Athletic, Johnson suffered a noncontact rib injury during Friday's practice.
Potential Chiefs WR Target Diontae Johnson Suffers Practice Injury
Dave Canales said Diontae Johnson’s rib area tightened up on him today. Was not a contact injury. Canales didn’t want to say too much else until he talks to the trainers.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 18, 2024
Johnson's rib injury may not seem like a big deal since players find ways to play with injured ribs all the time. This situation might be a bit different, though, since it was a noncontact rib injury.
According to the National Health Service, rib injuries can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks to heal. If Johnson's rib injury is severe enough that he can't play through it and he is out for 4-6 weeks, the Chiefs' desire to trade for him will go down.
On the other hand, Johnson's ribs could heal faster leaving a trade to the Chiefs a possibility. Ultimately, Johnson's fate will be determined by the severity of his injury.
Given the numerous injuries Kansas City's receiver group has suffered this season, Johnson's ailment could be enough to scare the front office regardless of his recovery timeline.
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