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Mecole Hardman Mecole Hardman Uncertain for Sunday's game
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 1:08 PM
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said "we'll see how that goes" when asked Monday about Hardman (knee) coming off IR in time for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bills, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.
Analysis: "I haven't made any decisions on that yet," Reid said. "[Hardman has] worked hard to try and get himself back." The return specialist and depth wideout had his 21-day practice window opened Jan. 1, but he's yet to upgrade beyond limited on-field activity. If Kansas City doesn't activate Hardman before his practice window closes, he will have to remain on IR for the rest of the playoffs, including if the Chiefs advance beyond Sunday's home AFC Championship Game against Buffalo. |
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Xavier Worthy Xavier Worthy Only WR with receptions for KC
Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 7:46 PM
Worthy brought in five of six targets for 45 receiving yards while losing eight yards on his only rushing attempt in Saturday's 23-14 playoff win over the Texans.
Analysis: Worthy was the only wideout to record a reception for Kansas City after DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster all finished with bagels in that category. It wasn't all roses for the speedy rookie after Worthy was stopped for an eight-yard loss in his only work as a rusher. Expect Worthy to serve a similar role on offense in the next round of the playoffs as the Chiefs prepare to host the AFC Championship Game next Sunday. |
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Isiah Pacheco Isiah Pacheco Struggles with six touches
Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 7:34 PM
Pacheco ran the ball five times for 18 yards and caught his only target for no gain in Saturday's 23-14 playoff win over the Texans.
Analysis: Pacheco was unable to get anything going on the ground early against Houston's defensive front, opening the door for veteran Kareem Hunt (8-44-1) to lead Kansas City's backfield in production. The 25-year-old Pacheco was dealing with a rib injury that cost him the last game of the regular season, but he did not carry an injury designation heading into Saturday's tilt. Both of the Chiefs' running backs figure to be involved in next Sunday's AFC Championship Game, but Pacheco's star has lost its luster following Hunt's superior performance against the Texans. |
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Kareem Hunt Kareem Hunt Veterans shine for KC in win
Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 7:23 PM
Hunt rushed eight times for 44 yards and a touchdown while grabbing his only target for two yards in Saturday's 23-14 divisional round win over the Texans.
Analysis: Hunt led Kansas City's backfield in touches and production while backfield mate Isiah Pacheco (5-18-0) struggled to gain any traction. The 29-year-old Hunt had taken a backseat to Pacheco when both players were healthy this season, but Saturday's results could keep the former in the driver's seat heading into the next round of the playoffs. Hunt has hit pay dirt in three consecutive active games dating back to Week 16 of the regular season, a streak he will attempt to extend in the AFC Championship Game next Sunday. |
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Travis Kelce Travis Kelce Dominating performance vs. HOU
Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 7:13 PM
Kelce corralled seven of eight targets for 117 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 23-14 win over Houston.
Analysis: A well-rested Kelce walked into Saturday's divisional round tilt and casually dropped his best receiving line of the season. The 35-year-old dominated the middle of the field in a matchup that had Kansas City at a disadvantage on the perimeters. Kelce saw his season totals take a dip in 2024, but it is obvious that he remains quarterback Patrick Mahomes' favorite target when the stakes are raised. The Chiefs will now prepare to host next Sunday's AFC Championship Game against either the Bills or the Ravens. |
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Patrick Mahomes Patrick Mahomes Athletic TD pass seals victory
Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 6:59 PM
Mahomes completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 177 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 14 yards on seven attempts in Saturday's 23-14 playoff win over the Texans.
Analysis: Mahomes' stats didn't pop in Saturday's box score, but he made plays when necessary against a stout defense in order to lift the Chiefs on to the AFC Championship Game. The superstar's lone touchdown pass was a highlight reel play in which he delivered a strike to Travis Kelce as a Houston defender was dragging the quarterback to the ground. Mahomes' minor ankle injury that he was nursing at the end of the regular season appears to be fully in the rear-view mirror. The Chiefs will now await the conclusion of Sunday's divisional round matchup between the Bills and Ravens in order to see which team will visit Kansas City next Sunday. |
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Mecole Hardman Mecole Hardman Won't return in divisional round
Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:40 PM
Hardman (knee), who remains on injured reserve, has been ruled out for Saturday's divisional-round contest against the Texans.
Analysis: The Chiefs designated Hardman for return from injured reserve on Jan. 1, but the wide receiver has yet to progress beyond a limited listing on six ensuing Chiefs injury reports. His window in which to get back on the active roster for the first time since Week 13 also is quickly coming to a close. First, though, Kansas City will need to emerge victorious Saturday in order for Hardman to have a chance to play again this season. |
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Mecole Hardman Mecole Hardman Unlikely to face Houston
Thu, Jan 16, 2025, 4:48 PM
Hardman (knee) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's AFC divisional-round game against the Texans.
Analysis: Hardman was placed on injured reserve Dec. 7 due to a knee injury, and it doesn't appear likely that he will be activated from IR ahead of Saturday's playoff bout. If the Chiefs beat the Texans, then Hardman would have an opportunity to be activated from IR for the AFC Championship Game. |
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Mecole Hardman Mecole Hardman Logs another limited session
Wed, Jan 15, 2025, 4:07 PM
Hardman (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Analysis: The 2019 second-round pick from Georgia was designated to return from injured reserve Jan. 1 and has now opened the Chiefs' week of practice with back-to-back limited sessions. Hardman's practice participation Thursday will likely offer the best indication of whether he can return for Saturday's divisional-round matchup against the Texans. However, Hardman must still be added to the Chiefs' active roster in order to suit up Saturday, regardless of his practice status Thursday. |
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Mecole Hardman Mecole Hardman Remains limited in practice
Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 7:50 PM
Hardman (knee), who is on injured reserve, was a limited practice participant Tuesday.
Analysis: Hardman had his practice window opened Jan. 1 and was deemed a limited practice participant throughout Week 18 prep. He wasn't activated ahead of that week's game against Denver and had an extra stretch of rest with the Chiefs holding a first-round playoff bye. Hardman has been on injured reserve since hurting his knee during a practice session in early December. |
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Isiah Pacheco Isiah Pacheco Good to go for divisional round
Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 4:54 PM
Pacheco (rib) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.
Analysis: Pacheco emerged from the Chiefs' Dec. 25 win over the Steelers with a rib injury, though head coach Andy Reid mostly downplayed any concern about the issue shortly after that game. The running back ended up sitting out the Chiefs' Week 18 loss to the Broncos, though he was likely inactive mostly as a precaution since Kansas City had already clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed and had little to gain by exposing him to further injury in the regular-season finale. After sitting out Week 18 and benefiting from the Chiefs' first-round playoff bye, Pacheco's ability to practice in full suggests he'll be ready to go for Saturday's postseason opener versus the Texans. Pacheco played less than half of the Chiefs' offensive snaps in each of his five appearances since being activated from injured reserve in Week 13 following an extended absence due to a fractured right fibula, so he could once again find himself in a timeshare out of the backfield with Kareem Hunt in the divisional-round matchup. |
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Patrick Mahomes Patrick Mahomes Returns to practice in full
Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 4:49 PM
Mahomes (ankle) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.
Analysis: Mahomes was inactive for the Chiefs' Week 18 loss to the Broncos, but he likely would have played in the game had Kansas City not already secured the AFC's No. 1 seed heading into the regular-season finale. The star quarterback instead benefited from more time to recover from the right high-ankle sprain that he sustained in a Dec. 15 win over the Browns and then played through in Weeks 16 and 17. With a full practice to kick off prep for the divisional-round matchup with the Texans on Saturday, Mahomes is good to go as the Chiefs begin their quest for a third straight Super Bowl title. |
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Isiah Pacheco Isiah Pacheco Present for practice Friday
Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 11:11 AM
Pacheco (ribs) participated in practice Friday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Analysis: The Chiefs earned a first-round playoff bye, so the team won't play again until Jan. 18 or 19, but Pacheco's presence for Friday's session bodes well for his chances of returning to action in the divisional round. Added context on that front will arrive next week, once the team posts its next official practice/injury report. |
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Noah Gray Noah Gray Minimal action in Week 18
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 11:43 AM
Gray gathered in his only target for one yard and rushed once for minus-4 yards during Sunday's 38-0 loss versus the Broncos.
Analysis: Gray wound up playing just four snaps in the contest with the top seed in the AFC already in hand. He managed to secure his lone target on the day for just a yard, but it allowed him to cap off his fourth season with a career-best 40 receptions, 437 yards and five touchdowns on 49 targets. Gray inked a contract extension with the Chiefs before the 2024 campaign, so he's potentially tied to the team through the 2027 season. |
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JuJu Smith-Schuster JuJu Smith-Schuster One grab in regular-season finale
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 11:37 AM
Smith-Schuster caught one of two targets for four yards during Sunday's 38-0 loss versus the Broncos.
Analysis: Smith-Schuster logged a heavy workload in the contest, playing 94 percent of the offensive snaps as one of the wideouts who saw additional action with Xavier Worthy, DeAndre Hopkins and Hollywood Brown all sitting out with the No. 1 seed already in hand coming into the Week 18 tilt. The veteran closed out the 2024 campaign with 18 catches for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 26 targets and will rejoin the free-agent ranks this offseason once the team's postseason run concludes. |
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Kareem Hunt Kareem Hunt Sticks to sidelines in Week 18
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 11:31 AM
Hunt did not log any snaps in Week 18 versus the Broncos.
Analysis: Hunt was suited up for the regular-season finale, but it was announced prior to kickoff that he would likely be joining the group of players who wouldn't take the field with the No.1 seed locked up heading into the regular-season finale. That was indeed the case, and he'll instead take a bonus week of rest with a bye on tap before the Chiefs return to action in the divisional round. |
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Xavier Worthy Xavier Worthy Withheld from action in Week 18
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 11:26 AM
Worthy didn't take the field in the regular-season finale versus the Broncos.
Analysis: Worthy joined a bevy of Chiefs regulars sitting out Week 18 with the Chiefs already locked into the top seed in the AFC. The rookie wideout closed out his rookie regular season with 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns, and he will get an added week of rest with a bye during the wild-card round before rejoining the fray in the divisional round. |
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DeAndre Hopkins DeAndre Hopkins No action in Week 18
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 11:23 AM
Hopkins didn't take the field in Week 18 versus the Broncos.
Analysis: Hopkins wasn't among the inactives for Sunday's regular-season finale, but the Chiefs opted to rest their starters with the No.1 seed locked up heading into the contest. Kansas City has a bye week on tap before they start their postseason run in the divisional round, and Hopkins should rejoin the action then. |
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Kareem Hunt Kareem Hunt Suiting up, but likely to rest
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 2:09 PM
Hunt (coach's decision) is active for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Analysis: Hunt didn't miss any practice time this week, but with the Chiefs having already clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed heading to regular-season finale and planning to rest multiple key players on both sides of the ball, he had been listed as doubtful heading into Sunday. Though he'll be in uniform Sunday, Hunt may just make a ceremonial start, if he even plays at all. Normal starting running back Isiah Pacheco (ribs) is also sitting out Sunday, so the Chiefs are expected to lean on Samaje Perine and Carson Steele as their primary options out of the backfield. |
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Travis Kelce Travis Kelce Idle for Week 18
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 2:05 PM
Kelce (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Analysis: Kelce didn't miss any practice time this week, but with the Chiefs having already clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed heading to regular-season finale, he'll be rested along with several other key players on both sides of the ball. Noah Gray and Peyton Hendershot will be the Chiefs' available options at tight end in Week 18. |
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