The Kansas City Chiefs are staring down a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, but it looks like they will be without some crucial pieces up front. Rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods and starting right tackle Jaylon Moore both missed practice for the second straight day, a serious blow for the Chiefs’ line as they head into Week 10. Woods hasn’t hit the practice field since exiting the Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos with a neck injury, and Moore went down in the third quarter of the Week 9 game with an ankle injury. Two starters, two days not practicing, that is a huge concern.
Chiefs Dealing with Multiple Absences
It is not just Woods and Moore causing headaches for the Chiefs. Second-year defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (knee) was a limited participant in practice again, marking his third straight week in that status. The clock is ticking for him, he needs to be activated to the active roster by next Tuesday, November 17, if he wants any shot at playing this season. Then there’s rookie running back Jaydn Ott, who was added to Thursday’s injury report as a limited participant with a hamstring issue. He only just got signed to the 53-man roster after Brashard Smith landed on the Reserve/Injured list a few weeks back. It seems like the Chiefs are really testing their depth right now.
But hey, it’s not all bad news on the Chiefs’ side. They did have a solid group of players who were full participants in practice both days this week, which is always good to see. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy (hamstring) was a full go, as was quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee and right elbow). Wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee), tight end Travis Kelce (ankle), safety Jaden Hicks (shoulder), quarterback Justin Fields (neck), cornerback Mansoor Delane (shoulder), and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa (hand) also showed they are ready to roll.
Falcons’ Injury Report: Some Good, Some Bad
Shifting over to the Chiefs’ Sunday opponent, the Atlanta Falcons are also battling their share of injuries, with some key players working their way back. Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (illness) was upgraded to a limited participant after missing Wednesday’s practice. This guy is a player, having played 57% of Atlanta’s defensive snaps this season with four tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, and a pass batted down. Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels (achilles) also saw an upgrade to limited participation after missing Wednesday. He leads Atlanta’s linebackers in snaps this year, racking up 61 tackles (five for loss), one sack, two passes defended, and an interception. Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. (back), a former first-round pick, also moved to limited after missing Wednesday; he made his season debut last week and got 15 snaps.
However, the Falcons have their own key players out. Starting linebacker Divine Deable (forearm) did not practice on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. He is their starting linebacker and has already missed two games this season due to an arm injury. Deable has 30 tackles, one for loss, two quarterback hits, and a pass defended this year. Rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch (hamstring) also missed his second consecutive practice. Branch is a special teams weapon, leading Atlanta in punt returns (8) and kick returns (14), with a long of 61 yards on a kickoff return. He also has 10 catches for 64 yards on offense. Finally, starting defensive end Cameron Thomas (groin), who had a brief stint with the Chiefs, was added to the injury report.
With Woods and Moore both out again for the Chiefs, it will be interesting to see how their offensive and defensive lines hold up against a Falcons team that has some serious talent returning to the field, even with their own key absences. This Sunday afternoon game is going to be a real test of depth for both squads.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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