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Isiah Pacheco Isiah Pacheco Not playing in Week 18
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 2:20 PM
Pacheco (rest) is inactive for Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Raiders, Matt McMullen of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Pacheco turned in a trio of limited practices during Week 18 prep before heading into the weekend with a questionable tag, and the fourth-year pro's inactive status is now official. Pacheco's absence Sunday will leave the Chiefs' ground attack in the hands of Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith and Dameon Pierce, the latter garnering active status for the first time during his short tenure in Kansas City. |
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Xavier Worthy Xavier Worthy Inactive as expected Sunday
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 2:16 PM
Worthy (illness) is inactive for Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Raiders, Matt McMullen of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The second-year speedster was already carrying a doubtful tag into the weekend, so his inactive status is of little surprise. In Worthy's absence versus Las Vegas, veterans Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster are set to operate as the top two wide-receiver targets for starting quarterback Chris Oladokun. |
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Jason Brownlee Jason Brownlee Up to aactive roster again
Sat, Jan 3, 2026, 8:41 PM
The Chiefs elevated Brownlee from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.
Analysis: The Chiefs are likely to be very shorthanded at wide receiver in the season finale Sunday against the Raiders. Brownlee will be elevated for the second straight game as a result, though he didn't log any snaps in Week 17. |
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Kareem Hunt Kareem Hunt Cleared for Sunday's game
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:41 PM
Hunt (illness) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's season finale against the Raiders after practicing fully Friday.
Analysis: Hunt logged 'DNPs' Wednesday and Thursday, but the running back's full participation in Friday's session sets the stage for him to be available Week 18. Meanwhile, fellow RB Isiah Pacheco (not injury-related/rest) is listed as questionable to face Las Vegas, and if he's made inactive this weekend, Hunt would be in a position to lead a Kansas City backfield that also includes Brashard Smith and Dameon Pierce. In his last outing, Hunt logged a 56 percent snap share en route to rushing seven times for 38 yards in the Chiefs' Week 17 loss to the Broncos, while Pacheco carried nine times for 32 yards, seeing action on 35 percent of the team's snaps on offense. |
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Xavier Worthy Xavier Worthy Doubtful for season finale
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:32 PM
Worthy (illness) is officially listed as doubtful for Sunday's season finale against the Raiders.
Analysis: Worthy could not practice in any capacity during Week 18 prep due to an illness, and it appears as though he'll sit out Kansas City's season finale. With Tyquan Thornton (concussion) and Rashee Rice (concussion) both on IR, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Royals will be positioned as Kansas City's starters in three-receiver stets to close out the 2025 campaign, assuming Worthy is indeed ruled out prior to Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. |
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Isiah Pacheco Isiah Pacheco Questionable for Week 18
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:30 PM
Pacheco (rest) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Las Vegas.
Analysis: Pacheco was listed as limited on all three of the Chiefs' Week 18 injury reports with rest, while fellow RB Kareem Hunt didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday due to an illness before returning to a full session Friday. Having said that, Pacheco is entering the weekend with a designation, and Hunt is not. Kansas City is out of playoff contention, so the team may opt to rest Pacheco, but such a decision doesn't need to be made until about 90 minutes before Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. If Pacheco is inhibited or sidelined this weekend, Hunt, Brashard Smith and Dameon Pierce would be lined up to handle the backfield. |
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Xavier Worthy Xavier Worthy Status TBD for Week 18
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 1:23 PM
Coach Andy Reid said Friday that "we'll see" when asked about Worthy's chances to play Sunday at Las Vegas, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.
Analysis: Per Nate Taylor of ESPN.com, Worthy wasn't able to practice in any capacity this week as he deals with an illness. The Chiefs placed Tyquan Thornton (concussion) on injured reserve last week and did the same with Rashee Rice (concussion) this week, leaving the team with three healthy wide receivers on the active roster at the moment (Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Royals). Based on Reid's comments, Worthy seems destined to be listed as questionable ahead of the weekend. |
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Xavier Worthy Xavier Worthy Not seen at start of practice
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 12:04 PM
Worthy (illness) wasn't spotted at the media-access portion of Friday's practice, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Analysis: Worthy didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, so the wideout's apparent absence Friday clouds his status for Sunday's season finale against the Raiders. If Worthy is sidelined this weekend, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Royals would lead the Chiefs' Week 18 WR corps, with Jason Brownlee and Jimmy Holiday candidates to be elevated from the team's practice squad. |
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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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