The Kansas City Chiefs will be without three contributors on offense in Week 16 versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
Those players are left tackle Donovan Smith (neck), wide receiver Kadarius Toney (hip) and running back Jerick McKinnon (groin). Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed the absences to media members on December 23 (per Chiefs Digest insider Matt Derrick).
The trio will likely be spelled by rookie LT Wanya Morris, veteran WR Richie James and injury returnee Isiah Pacheco.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid tells us LT Donovan Smith (neck), WR Kadarius Toney (hip) and RB Jerick McKinnon are OUT and won't play Monday vs. Raiders.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) December 23, 2023
Later, wide receiver Mecole Hardman was also ruled out officially as he continues his recovery from a thumb injury.
2023 Setbacks Continue for Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney
Last season, Toney’s major issue was availability — although he did flash more productivity on the field.
He’s done a much better job of suiting up for games in 2023 despite various nagging ailments, but his more recent setbacks have been drops and penalties. Toney has only been inactive twice this year (including Week 16). Ironically, both absences will come against the Raiders.
The former New York Giants first rounder has accumulated 169 receiving yards and another 31 rushing yards with one touchdown and 14 first downs in what has been a very disappointing campaign for the playmaker.
Coach Reid hinted that James could see more action in Week 16 on Monday, December 18. Toney’s injury only greatens that possibility.
McKinnon is another regular on the KC injury report. Christmas Day will only be his third official absence of the season but similar to Toney, the veteran has been plagued by nagging issues all year.
Before Reid’s announcement, A-to-Z Sports Kansas City insider Charles Goldman pointed out that “if RB Jerick McKinnon can’t go – RB Keaontay Ingram would be in line to be elevated from the practice squad.”
If RB Jerick McKinnon can't go – RB Keaontay Ingram would be in line to be elevated from the practice squad.
The #Chiefs have already used all three standard elevations on RB La'Mical Perine (Week 2, Week 9, Week 12) and RB Deneric Prince (Week 13, Week 14, Week 15). https://t.co/iax78QeGda
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) December 23, 2023
“The Chiefs have already used all three standard elevations on RB La’Mical Perine (Week 2, Week 9, Week 12) and RB Deneric Prince (Week 13, Week 14, Week 15),” he explained.
Ingram first joined the Chiefs practice squad on November 30. He’s had a little less than a month to learn Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy’s playbook.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Calls Wanya Morris a ‘Battler’
Patrick Mahomes talked about Morris’ recent promotion into the starting lineup on December 21.
“I think the way you know [he’s progressed] is that he’s a battler,” Mahomes told reporters on the rookie.
“He’s someone that’s gonna go out there and fight the entire game,” the QB went on. “He’s getting better and better as far as technique and little things that we do within our offense and how [O-line] coach [Andy] Heck wants it.”
Mahomes added that the Chiefs know Morris is “gonna finish every play” and if he loses a rep, his mentality is that “he’s gonna win [the next] one.”
Morris has logged 40 or more offensive snaps over the past three weeks. Although Kansas City has gone 1-2 over that stretch, the 2023 third rounder has held his own.
Pro Football Focus has yet to charge Morris with a sack in pass protection. His nine quarterback pressures were divvied out: one vs. the Raiders in Week 12, one in Green Bay, five against the Buffalo Bills and two in New England.
Those performances have yielded a solid 67.8 grade as a pass blocker. PFF was less kind with Morris’ run-blocking marks, crediting him with a 56.3.
“He’s not gonna let anything affect his mentality,” Mahomes concluded on the rookie. “It’s great whenever you throw a guy in there like that, a young guy. He steps up to the plate, gets a base hit or hits a home run… He’s ready to go.”
