Isiah Pacheco and Multiple Other KC Chiefs Miss Second Practice in a Row
The Kansas City Chiefs' week of practice rolls on as a Sunday matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals draws near. With that said, five players won't be on the field for afternoon practice for the second day in a row.
Cornerback Jaylen Watson is set to make his return from an illness but in his place, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is sick and won't practice on Thursday. Elsewhere, the same group of running back Isiah Pacheco (concussion), tackle Donovan Smith (neck), wideout Kadarius Toney (hip) and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (calf) aren't expected to work.
Chiefs very thin at running back on Thursday afternoon
Edwards-Helaire has missed some practices due to being sick before. Had this happened on Wednesday, there wouldn't be much (if any) concern about his potential availability for this weekend. Because he's sitting out somewhat late in the week, though, it's something to at least keep an eye on. The 2020 first-round pick has missed just one game all season and has logged a combined 102 snaps in the last three weeks.
Part of the reason Edwards-Helaire saw an increase in reps was Pacheco's lack of availability. The second-year halfback missed consecutive games after a cleanup shoulder procedure and in his first week back, he suffered a concussion in the third quarter of Monday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. With Edwards-Helaire, Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon (injured reserve) all missing practice on Thursday, look to see La'Mical Perine — who was recently signed to the active roster — to be the primary back in practice. Rookie Deneric Prince and veteran Keaontay Ingram are also players to watch.
L'Jarius Sneed, others to miss yet another practice
Regarding the trio of Smith, Toney and Sneed, missing a second straight practice doesn't bode particularly well for their availability this week. Smith and Toney have both dealt with lingering injuries, but Sneed's calf ailment is pretty new. He briefly exited Week 16's outing because of it but later returned, with head coach Andy Reid describing it this week as a "strain." Speaking on Thursday afternoon, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said the Chiefs are still "hopeful" that their star cornerback can play this weekend. His participation in Friday's practice will be critical.
"You guys have seen LJ, he's kind of traveled with, usually, their top wideout," Spagnuolo said. "So the decision we'll have to make is do we put somebody else in that role, or do we do like we normally do and stay right and left? We'll figure that out when the time comes. We're hopeful for L'Jarius. I thought both him and Mike Edwards going back in the game last week was big. Both of them kind of got dinged up there. When you lose two key secondary guys in any game, there's some shuffling and some scrambling. When those guys bounced back in there, that was huge. The training staff and LJ will make that decision so hopefully, (crosses fingers)."
