The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday as part of a triple-header on Christmas day but will be forced to suit up without four of their offensive playmakers. Official senior team report Matt McMullen shared the Chiefs’ final injury report on X.com on Friday, which shows ten of fourteen players on the report were full participants in practice and will play against the club’s biggest division rival.
The four that will not play in Week 16 are running back Jerick McKinnon (groin), wide receiver Kadarius Toney (hip), left tackle Donovan Smith (neck), and wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who remains on IR but was limited in practice with a thumb injury.
These injuries mean the Chiefs will look to some of their depth players at various positions. Losing McKinnon means Kansas City will look to Clyde Edwards-Helaire to build off of the huge game he had last week against the Patriots. Luckily, Isiah Pacheco will return to the backfield this week after missing two games due to shoulder surgery.
Kadarius Toney’s absence creates an opportunity for Richie James and Justyn Ross to step in and make some plays for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. Lastly, left tackle Donovan Smith continues to fight with a neck stinger that’s kept him sidelined for the last two games. Rookie Wanya Morris will take his spot as the starter on Mahomes’ blind-side blocker. So far, Morris has played well on the left side of the o-line and appears to be the team’s future at left tackle after this season.
Kansas City begins the NFL’s Christmas Day slate of games with a noon kickoff at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs have won ten of the last eleven meetings against the Raiders since Mahomes took over as the QB in Kansas City. A win on Sunday puts the Chiefs in prime position to clinch the AFC West for the eighth consecutive season.
