PLAYER NOTES
–S Eric Berry was limited in practice on Tuesday, and the Chiefs remain noncommittal on whether he will play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. His return this week would allow additional rest before the Chiefs play again in Week 16 at Seattle. Berry was listed as questionable on Wednesday’s injury report.
–WR Tyreek Hill played a limited role in practice Tuesday but appears on track to play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. Hill suffered both a wrist and a heel injury against Baltimore Sunday, but it’s the heel injury causing the most concern. Head coach Andy Reid said he expects Hill to play against the Chargers, although he was listed as questionable on Wednesday’s injury report.
–RB Spencer Ware did not practice on Tuesday after suffering both shoulder and hamstring injuries Sunday against Baltimore. Ware initially returned after the shoulder injury, but he tweaked his hamstring late in the fourth quarter and did not return afterward. The Chiefs appear ready for Damien Williams to start in the event Ware doesn’t play. Ware is listed as doubtful on Wednesday’s injury report.
–LG Cam Erving left Sunday’s game with a knee injury and did not return. The Chiefs held him out of practice on Tuesday, with veteran Jeff Allen likely to start in his place if Erving remains sidelined. Erving was listed as doubtful on Wednesday’s injury report.
–QB Patrick Mahomes appears on the team’s injury report with an injury to his left wrist. It’s on his non-throwing arm and doesn’t expect to have any impact on his availability for Thursday night’s game.
–WR Sammy Watkins remains on the sideline with a right foot injury and was declared out against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. The injury could also impact his availability for the final two games of the season at Seattle and against Oakland.
–WR Kelvin Benjamin will likely make his Chiefs debut Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. Benjamin expects to play in a limited role as the club works him into the offense.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Damien Williams. With starter Spencer Ware battling shoulder and hamstring injuries, the fifth-year back may find himself in an expanded role during the season’s closing stretch. Williams averages just 3.6 yards per carry in his career on the ground, but he has 94 catches for 774 yards and seven touchdowns in the passing game, making him a valuable tool for a suddenly depleted Kansas City backfield. Williams scored his first two touchdowns for the Chiefs against Baltimore in Week 14, including a 5-yard catch from Patrick Mahomes that forced the game into overtime.
GAME PLAN: Injuries and roster turnover have challenged the Chiefs offense in recent weeks, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues proving he can handle the bulk of the offensive load on his own. The Chiefs look to continue their mission of scoring early and often. The Chargers can bring a rush, but nothing quite like what Mahomes saw from Baltimore last week. Wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin may work into the rotation picking up some of the underneath routes in place of injured Sammy Watkins. But look for the Chiefs to use a heavy dose of tight end Travis Kelce along with their blend of misdirection to set up the long ball to Tyreek Hill and the team’s other speedy wideouts.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton seems to have the number of Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. The Chiefs defense often frustrates Rivers with pressure and mixed coverages, and Sutton looks to continue that pattern Thursday night. If edge rushers Dee Ford and Justin Houston along with defensive end Chris Jones can penetrate the pocket and rush Rivers, the Chiefs can force Chargers into poor decisions. The bend-but-don’t-break philosophy of Sutton depends on big plays, so if the Chiefs pick up sacks and turnovers, that should be enough to complement the high-scoring offense.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Chiefs LBs Dee Ford and Justin Houston vs. Chargers LT Russell Okung and RT Sam Tevi. The Chiefs rank second in the league with 42 sacks, and the pressure starts with Ford and Houston setting the edge. The duo have combined for 16.5 sacks along with 10 forced fumbles. The Chargers have protected QB Philip Rivers well this season, but if Ford and Houston do their job, DE Chris Jones can win one-on-one matchups inside.
–Chargers secondary vs. Chiefs TE Travis Kelce. Kelce reached a new career best in Week 14 with 1,159 receiving yards, and now has his sights clearly set on the record of 1,327 yards by a tight end held by Rob Gronkowski. The Chargers held Kelce to just one catch for 6 yards on six targets in Week 1, and it wasn’t just one defender locking him down. Kelce has 17 100-yard games in his career, but none in nine contests against the Chargers.
