Safety Chamarri Conner was a full participant in practice for the second day straight, which means he is absolutely on track to make his season debut in Week 4. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo already said the coaching staff will “fit him in there, whether it’s safety or nickel in some packages,” so you know they are stoked to get him back on the field for the road game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon.
Chiefs’ Defensive Lineup Getting Boosted
Conner’s return couldn’t be more timely, especially with some other guys still working through things. Left tackle Josh Simmons didn’t participate in practice again because he’s still dealing with that bulging disc in his lower back, according to head coach Andy Reid. And cornerback L’Jarius Sneed was a limited participant for his knee, which they regularly manage. But with Conner back, even if Sneed’s reps are limited, that secondary just got a huge boost. It’s awesome to see him get back to full speed.
On the bright side, it wasn’t just Conner looking good. A bunch of other key players were full participants in practice too, which is huge as they hit the road. That list includes DT Chris Jones (calf), DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah (quad), DB Jadon Canady (knee), LB Jack Cochrane (calf), DE Ashton Gillotte (knee), WR Rashee Rice (knee), and even QB Patrick Mahomes (knee). Seeing that many guys back to full practice status means they are getting healthy at the right time.
Raiders Dealing With Their Own Woes
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows on the other side of the field, though. The Raiders have their own injury concerns heading into Sunday. Guard Jackson Powers-Johnson didn’t participate in practice on Wednesday after he had to leave their Week 3 game against the New Orleans Saints in the fourth quarter with a groin injury. You never want to see a lineman out, that can mess with everything up front. Plus, third-string quarterback Aidan O’Connell was out of practice for personal, non-injury reasons.
However, the Raiders also had a few full participants in their Wednesday practice: WR Malik Benson (knee), DT Florunso Fatukasi (shoulder), RB Ashton Jeanty (ankle), S Tristin McCollum (knee), S Treydan Stukes (concussion), and WR Cody White (ankle). So, both teams are getting some guys back, but that Conner return feels like a real game-changer for the Chiefs’ defense.
With Conner making his season debut, this Sunday’s game against the Raiders is gonna be a serious test. You know the Chiefs defense is going to come out firing, and with Spagnuolo already talking about fitting Conner in, expect him to make an impact. The stakes are high for an early-season division matchup, and getting key players back healthy is exactly what you want to see. Bring on Sunday!
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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