The Chiefs returned three of their key gamers from accidents on Wednesday as extensive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster joined working again Isiah Pacheco and defensive finish Charles Omenihu on the apply squad forward of this weekend’s journey to Buffalo.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned there’s a probability Smith-Schuster will play within the essential matchup between the undefeated sides Bosses and accounts. He has been out since Week 7, when he damage his hamstring within the opening minutes of the win over San Francisco.
“We’ll see it in apply,” Reid mentioned. “If it is as much as him, he is again.”
Smith-Schuster’s damage, together with earlier accidents to extensive receivers Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice, had been the first causes the Chiefs traded a draft decide to Tennessee to get DeAndre Hopkins. And whereas they share related talent units, Smith-Schuster and Hopkins even have some totally different talent units, and there is a probability they might see the sector on the similar time Sunday.
As for Pacheco and Omenihu, Reid known as it “unlikely” that they might play their first recreation after returning to coaching.
Pacheco fractured his fibula in Week 2 in opposition to Cincinnati and required surgical procedure. The preliminary timeline known as for his return inside six to eight weeks, which places Pacheco on schedule. But the Chiefs aren’t determined for him to return to the backfield with Kareem Hunt taking part in so nicely since he was basically employed off the sofa when Pacheco went down.
Hunt has touched the ball not less than 21 instances every of the final 5 video games. And regardless of having no actual offseason or coaching camp, he ran for 449 yards, 5 scores and caught 14 passes for 116 yards in his first six video games.
The Chiefs are hoping that the addition of Pacheco to the backfield within the coming weeks will lighten Hunt’s load, and maybe preserve each working backs in higher form for the stretch run. In truth, it might look rather a lot just like the one-two punch of Hunt and Nick Chubb that the Browns have had for the higher a part of the final 5 years.
“I’m joyful for him and I do know he is excited to get again on the market. I believe it should be a extremely unbelievable backfield,” Hunt mentioned. “I believe it may very well be very related (to Cleveland). I’m excited. I’m used to working with different nice defenders and stuff like that.”
Omenihu had been on the bodily unable to carry out checklist for the reason that defender tore his ACL within the Chiefs’ AFC title win in Baltimore. The Chiefs bided their time till his return by leaning closely on George Karlaftis, Mike Danna and Felix Anudike-Uzomah, then added Josh Uche to the go rush group in a commerce with New England.
Omenihu was a drive in 11 video games for Kansas City final season, racking up seven sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles.
“All these gamers are totally different so far as how they arrive again from damage,” Chiefs supervisor Brett Veach instructed a small group of reporters Wednesday. “Everybody heals otherwise. And the precise nature, the rehab, the physique and all the pieces else – I imply, they’re simply so totally different. Some of those guys, they hit the bottom working. Some of those guys, it takes some For a few of these guys it takes a number of months. For a few of these guys it takes an entire yr.
Associated Press reporting.
(Want nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication each day.)
Get extra from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get info on video games, information and extra
