After a harrowing 16-14 victory over the Denver Broncos, the Kansas City Chiefs are prepping for their showdown with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. It’s the most anticipated game on the schedule, but it also marks the beginning for some of the walking wounded to return to the roster.
Call the Kansas City Chiefs good or lucky, but they are 9-0 because they refuse to lose when the game is on the line. They have the mental fortitude that no situation is dire, and they have the players and experience to overcome any no-win solution.
Entering their game against the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs have been a banged-up football team. However, that’s about to change with the return of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Isiah Pacheco, Charles Omenihu, and, in December, Hollywood Brown.
That’s an all-star cast that will have time in the regular season to get into post-season shape. Add the fact that Kansas City will likely lock down the Top Spot in the AFC before Christmas; they can integrate their wounded in and out of the lineup and rest their veterans for their Three-Peat run.
Still, that doesn’t mean the Chiefs are done tweaking their roster. They could pursue former Miami Dolphins Cornerback Xavien Howard, and former Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari, both free agents.
Heading into the Bills game, Smith-Schuster will likely be back. It’ll be interesting to see how he integrates into the offense with newcomer DeAndre Hopkins and rookie Xavier Worthy.
Against Denver, the Chief’s passing attack wasn’t in sync, and having JuJu on the field will give Mahomes another familiar receiver. Worthy continues to struggle, but he is a rookie and needs time to figure out his place in the offense.
Regardless, the Chiefs will get healthy again, and with some of their wounded returning over the next four games, that bodes well for the roster.
Still, Andy Reid has some big decisions to make. Clyde Edwards-Helaire might be ready this week, too, and Pacheco will be on pace for two weeks, so what does that mean for the roster?
Carson Steele is a lock, but I would not want the Chiefs to cut Samaje Perine. It’s doubtful he would clear waivers, so a return to the practice squad seems risky. Plus, there is no guarantee Pacheco or CEH will produce in the same manner as Kareem Hunt right now.
On defense, unless the Chiefs sign Howard, the return of Omenihu will be massive for KC’s defense. Last season was his best in the NFL, and the pending free agent has three months to show he deserves a big contract next year.
At his best, the rotation of Chris Jones, Mike Danna, George Karlaftis, and Joshua Uche gives them a solid rotation of pass rushers. That’s the most depth the Chiefs have had on their roster at that position.
So, I suspect the Chiefs will be patient with their injured players. With a wide cushion that could expand Sunday in Buffalo in the AFC, it’s better to bring them back slowly than out of desperation.
Either way, it’s not often a roster gets healthy late in the season, but soon, fresh legs will hit the roster for the Super Bowl run.
