The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to get back into the win column on a short week versus the Denver Broncos. Unfortunately, it appears they will be noticeably shorthanded.
Kansas City announced that wide receiver Sammy Watkins and defensive tackle Chris Jones have been ruled out for the road matchup in Denver, via Twitter.
Kendall Fuller, Eric Fisher, Chris Jones, Andrew Wylie, and Sammy Watkins are OUT for tomorrow's game.
Bashaud Breeland is questionable with a non-injury related designation.https://t.co/8MKapgxuRu
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 16, 2019
There had been plenty of optimism surrounding Watkins' status after he was a limited participant in practice this week. He was sidelined during the Chiefs' loss to the Houston Texans in Week 6 with a hamstring injury. It appears the short week did not allow him enough time to make a full recovery.
Meanwhile, Jones was unable to practice all week due to a groin injury he suffered during their Week 5 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. His absence was sorely missed against quarterback Deshaun Watson last week and will need to find a way to generate some pressure up front if they hope to get back on track versus the Broncos.
Regardless, there is no question that their absence leaves some notable voids on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has cooled off significantly in recent weeks due to the lack of firepower on offense. While the return of wide receiver Tyreek Hill provides a much-needed boost, Watkins is more than capable of taking over as well when he is healthy.
While the timing of Jones' absence is hardly ideal, it has highlighted his importance as one of the anchors of this defense. The Chiefs will be relying on rookie defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to serve as his replacement once again.
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