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Kareem Hunt Kareem Hunt Absent from practice Thursday
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 1:07 PM
Hunt (illness) did not practice Thursday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Analysis: Hunt will miss a second straight practice due to an ailment he's managing. Unless he's able to resume practicing in full Friday, it looks like the veteran running back will be assigned an injury designation for Sunday's season finale against the Raiders. Isiah Pacheco could get a chance to handle a workhorse backfield role in Week 18 if Hunt can't go. |
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Xavier Worthy Xavier Worthy Misses another practice
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 1:03 PM
Worthy (illness) is not practicing Thursday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Analysis: Worthy is now sitting out a second straight practice due to illness, making him seem legitimately up-in-the-air for Sunday's season finale against Las Vegas. The second-year pro's finale chance to get back on the practice field will come Friday. If Worth can't play Week 18, it will be Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Royals who act as the starting three wideouts for quarterback Chris Oladokun. |
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Kareem Hunt Kareem Hunt Dealing with illness
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 4:46 PM
Hunt (illness) did not practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Hunt handled his usual backfield split alongside Isiah Pacheco during Kansas City's 20-13 loss to Denver on Christmas Day in Week 17, rushing seven times for a team-high 38 yards. The veteran is facing a chance to close out the year on a positive note with a favorable matchup against the Raiders on deck for Sunday, but he'll first need to get healthy from his current ailment. Hunt will have two more chances to retake the practice field ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale. |
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Xavier Worthy Xavier Worthy Under the weather
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 12:02 PM
Worthy (illness) won't practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Analysis: Worthy now has two more chances to practice in advance of Sunday's season finale against the Raiders. Assuming the wideout is available this weekend, he'll be in line to catch passes from QB Chris Oladokun, who threw for just 66 yards in the Chiefs' Week 17 loss to the Broncos. |
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Noah Gray Noah Gray Claims lone target on TNF
Fri, Dec 26, 2025, 11:14 AM
Gray hauled in his only target for two yards during Thursday's 20-13 loss to Denver.
Analysis: Gray fell below a 50 percent offensive snap share for the third time in the last four games, and minimal production has come over that span, tallying just two catches for 16 yards on four targets. He's got a final audition on tap in Week 18 before the waiting game begins regarding Travis Kelce's decision whether or not to play another season or hang up the cleats, potentially opening a starting role to Gray. Even if Kelce opts to retire, there's no guarantee the Chiefs' brass views Gray as the solution at the tight end position moving forward. |
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Brashard Smith Brashard Smith Nabs touchdown catch versus Broncos
Fri, Dec 26, 2025, 11:09 AM
Smith had zero carries and reeled in three of his four targets for five yards and a touchdown during Thursday's 20-13 loss to the Broncos.
Analysis: Smith has seen a slight uptick in his snap share over the last couple of weeks, and it wouldn't be shocking if that's the case again in the season finale in Week 18 with Kansas City eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2014. The rookie back hasn't proved a ton as a runner, averaging just under 3.0 yards per carry, but he's been a solid contributor as a receiver out of the backfield, hauling in 23 of his 31 targets for 170 yards and a touchdown in his inaugural NFL campaign. He'll have one more opportunity to add to that total before his rookie season expires. |
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JuJu Smith-Schuster JuJu Smith-Schuster Trio of grabs in loss
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 11:10 PM
Smith-Schuster brought in all three targets for 16 yards in the Chiefs' 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night.
Analysis: Smith-Schuster finished tied for second in receptions and as the runner-up in receiving yards as well, although on a night when Chris Oladokun threw for only 66 yards, that didn't equate to any usable fantasy production. Nevertheless, Thursday marked Smith-Schuster's most productive all-around game in two months, as he hadn't exceeded one reception or 12 receiving yards in any of the previous seven games. Smith-Schuster and the rest of the Chiefs' passing attack will retain a muted fantasy outlook for a Week 18 road matchup against the Raiders with Oladokun under center. |
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Hollywood Brown Hollywood Brown One catch in Week 17 loss
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 11:04 PM
Brown brought in one of three targets for seven yards in the Chiefs' 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night.
Analysis: Despite the fact both Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton were placed on injured reserve earlier in the week due to their respective concussions, Brown had a minimal impact while working with third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun. Irrespective of who's been under center, Brown has struggled with his production down the stretch, as Thursday marked his fifth straight game with less than 40 receiving yards. |
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Kareem Hunt Kareem Hunt Leads ground attack in loss
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 10:40 PM
Hunt rushed seven times for 38 yards in the Chiefs' 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Thursday.
Analysis: Hunt logged two fewer carries than backfield mate Isiah Pacheco but outgained him by six yards, while neither back had any involvement in the passing game. Hunt saw a significant resurgence from a forgettable Week 16 showing against the Titans, when he'd netted only two rushing yards on three carries. Hunt will look close out the campaign on a positive note and eclipse 40 rushing yards for the first time since Week 13 when the Chiefs visit the Raiders in Week 18. |
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Isiah Pacheco Isiah Pacheco Nine carries in Week 17 loss
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 10:33 PM
Pacheco rushed nine times for 32 yards and wasn't targeted in the Chiefs' 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night.
Analysis: Pacheco saw two more carries than backfield mate Kareem Hunt but gained six fewer yards. The fourth-year back was stymied more frequently than even his 3.6 yards per carry suggest, as outside of a 13-yard game-long run, Pacheco netted just 19 yards on his other eight rush attempts. The Rutgers product will be looking to snap an unfavorable streak in the Week 18 road matchup against the Raiders to close out the season, one that's seen Pacheco fail to clear 40 rushing yards in five consecutive games. |
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Xavier Worthy Xavier Worthy Nets one scrimmage yard in loss
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 10:29 PM
Worthy failed to bring in any of his three targets and rushed once for one yard in the Chiefs' 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night.
Analysis: Even with Rashee Rice and fellow deep threat Tyquan Thornton on injured reserve due to concussions, Worthy was unable to break through on the stat sheet. The 2024 first-round pick's blanking as a wideout was his second of the season, and he'll have nowhere to go but up in a Week 18 road matchup against the Raiders to close out the regular season. |
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Travis Kelce Travis Kelce Sets pace with modest yardage total
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 10:24 PM
Kelce brought in five of six targets for 36 yards in the Chiefs' 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night.
Analysis: Kelce was Chris Oladokun's favorite target by far, leading to the veteran tight end recording team highs in receptions, receiving yards and targets. Kelce fared much better than in his first game without Patrick Mahomes (IR, knee) in Week 16 against the Titans, and another week of practice with his young quarterback could lead to a solid finish to an otherwise disappointing season in a Week 18 road matchup against the Raiders. |
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Chris Oladokun Chris Oladokun Minimal production in loss
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 10:20 PM
Oladokun completed 13 of 22 passes for 66 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions while adding two rushes for 11 yards in the Chiefs' 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night. He also fumbled once but recovered.
Analysis: The journeyman signal-caller didn't have a bright outlook coming into Thursday's game given the matchup and his inexperience, but even in that context. Oladokun's microscopic passing yardage total was jarring. However, Oladokun was sacked just once and didn't turn the ball over, and he connected with Brashard Smith from five yards out for his first NFL touchdown pass. Oladokun figures to be under center again in a Week 18 road matchup against the Raiders to close out the season. |
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Dameon Pierce Dameon Pierce Remains inactive in Week 17
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 6:08 PM
Pierce (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday night's contest against the Broncos.
Analysis: Pierce will be a healthy scratch for the second straight week after the team officially signed him to the active roster. He'll have one more chance to make his Chiefs debut in Week 18 against the Raiders. |
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Jason Brownlee Jason Brownlee Elevated for Week 17
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 3:37 PM
The Chiefs have elevated Brownlee from the practice squad to the active roster for Thursday's contest against the Broncos.
Analysis: Brownlee will get a chance to handle a depth role in a Kansas City wide receiver corps that saw all of Rashee Rice (concussion), Tyquan Thornton (concussion) and Nikko Remigio (knee) be placed on season-ending IR leading up to Thursday's contest. He figures to contribute as the No. 5 WR behind Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Royals versus Denver. |
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Nikko Remigio Nikko Remigio Lands on IR
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 3:28 PM
The Chiefs placed Remigio (knee) on injured reserve Thursday.
Analysis: Remigio will miss Kansas City's final two games of the 2025 campaign due to a knee injury. He logged 14 regular-season appearances with the team in 2025, in which span he mostly contributed on special teams, but did secure his only target for 21 yards. With Remigio and Tyquan Thornton (concussion) both having been placed on IR, Brashard Smith and Jalen Royals will be the favorites to take over as the Chiefs' top contributors in the return game. |
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Nikko Remigio Nikko Remigio Questionable for Christmas Day
Wed, Dec 24, 2025, 3:47 PM
Remigio (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Broncos.
Analysis: Remigio was held out of practice Tuesday and Wednesday due to a knee injury, and his official status for Christmas Day may not be known until the Chiefs announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. With Rashee Rice (concussion) and Tyquan Thornton (concussion) both on injured reserve, Remigio and rookie fourth-rounder Jalen Royals are slated for larger rotational roles on offense behind Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. |
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Tyquan Thornton Tyquan Thornton Moved to IR, done for 2025
Wed, Dec 24, 2025, 2:24 PM
The Chiefs placed Thornton (concussion) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Analysis: Thornton entered the league's concussion protocol following the Chiefs' Week 15 loss to the Chargers, which prevented him from playing against the Titans in Week 16. Since the Chiefs are eliminated from playoff contention, Thornton's placement on IR means he will not return in 2025 and not play in the Kansas City's last two regular-season games. The 2022 second-rounder signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs in February after being cut by the Patriots in November in 2024, and he finished his first year in Kansas City with a 19/438/3 receiving line (on 36 targets) while turning 18 kickoff returns into 475 yards (26.4 yards per return). With Thornton and Rashee Rice (concussion) both on IR, the Chiefs' wide receiver corps will be led by Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Hollywood Brown. |
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Rashee Rice Rashee Rice Lands on IR
Wed, Dec 24, 2025, 2:20 PM
The Chiefs placed Rice (concussion) on IR on Wednesday.
Analysis: The same goes for fellow WR Tyquan Thornton (concussion), with both players shut down for the Chiefs' last two games, as the team is out of playoff contention. Rice thus finishes his 2025 campaign with 53 catches (on 78 targets) for 571 yards and five TDs in eight games to go along with five carries for 20 yards and a rushing score. Kansas City's top wideout remains under under contract with the team through 2026. In his looming absence, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Nikko Remigio (knee, questionable) and Jalen Royals are in line to handle the Chiefs' WR duties Thursday against the Broncos. |
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Chris Oladokun Chris Oladokun Slated to start Week 17
Wed, Dec 24, 2025, 11:24 AM
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed Tuesday that Oladokun will start at quarterback for the Chiefs in Thursday's game against the Broncos, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.
Analysis: Kansas City will be breaking in its third starting quarterback in as many games, with Oladokun getting his chance after Patrick Mahomes (knee) suffered season-ending ACL and LCL tears in Week 15 and after Gardner Minshew (knee) went down with a season-ending tibial plateau fracture in Week 16. A 2022 seventh-round draft pick, Oladokun ended up seeing his first extended NFL snaps in relief of Minshew in last Sunday's 26-9 loss to the Titans, completing 11 of 16 pass attempts for 111 yards while adding seven yards on two carries. Oladokun doesn't profile as a recommended option in fantasy lineups for Week 17 while he makes his first NFL start against one of the league's top defenses and potentially without the services of top wideout Rashee Rice (concussion), who has yet to practice this week and appears likely to sit out Thursday. |
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