Kansas City Chiefs rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane is still battling a shoulder injury that has him day-to-day, leaving his Week 9 availability against the Jets up in the air. This isn’t some new tweak either. Delane has been fighting through this shoulder issue for much of the season already.
Delane’s Week 9 Status Remains a Mystery
Delane’s shoulder kept him sidelined for Sunday’s loss to the Broncos, where he was downgraded from questionable to out just a day before the game. Head coach Andy Reid didn’t offer much clarity in his Monday news conference, telling Nate Taylor of ESPN, “It’s just a matter of it being strong enough to get out there. There’s a chance that he’ll be able to get himself out there this week. Again, it’s just how strong it is. It’s going to be a day-to-day thing.” That’s not exactly a vote of confidence, is it? It sounds like they’re playing it by ear, which means a high-impact rookie could be a game-time decision.
Rookie Impact on Hold
Drafted as the No. 6 overall pick this year, Delane has actually shown flashes of why the Chiefs took him so high. In just five games, he’s put up five passes defensed, three tackles for loss, and even nabbed an interception. Those are solid numbers for a rookie corner who’s been battling an injury all year. Missing him for another game against the Jets would be a real blow to that secondary.
The big question now is whether Delane will be able to participate in Kansas City’s first practice of the week on Wednesday. If he’s out there, maybe there’s hope for Sunday’s matchup against the Jets. If not, it could be a tough Week 9 for the Chiefs without their top rookie corner.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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