A 16-15 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday felt secondary for the Kansas City Chiefs, whose roster is already reeling from injuries as training camp concludes. Seriously, it’s brutal out there. Head Coach Andy Reid came out after the game and dropped more injury news, adding to an already overflowing list that makes you wonder who’s even left to practice.
New Game, New Problems: Gilman and Smith Go Down
As if their injury situation wasn’t bad enough, the Chiefs picked up a couple more dings before and during Saturday’s game. Starting safety Alohi Gilman was a late scratch, sidelined with low back spasms during pregame warmups. You gotta feel for the guy, gearing up to play and then boom, your back locks up. Then there’s reserve defensive end Tyreke Smith, who tweaked his right hamstring mid-game. Reid himself said it was “bad enough that he couldn’t continue on there,” which never sounds good for a hamstring. This is just piling on to what’s already a nightmare scenario for their depth.
The Never-Ending List of Absentees
Beyond those two, the sheer number of Chiefs players who didn’t see the field is alarming. We’re talking 15 other guys who just weren’t in the game. Starter Chamarri Conner, another safety, is still recovering from a knee injury. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed has been missing time too, as they’re trying to manage his recurring knee issues. Even Patrick Mahomes, their star QB, was ruled out earlier in the week; they’re still monitoring his recovery from a major knee injury from way back in December. That’s a huge name to have on the sidelines!
Their offensive line is also beat up, with starting left tackle Josh Simmons (back) and right guard Trey Smith (hip) both sitting out after missing the last stage of training camp. Receivers Rashee Rice (offseason knee surgery) and Xavier Worthy (shoulder injury earlier in camp) haven’t even played in either preseason game. Jeff Caldwell (hyperextended knee) and Jimmy Holiday (quad injury) were also out, leaving their receiving corps super thin. Linebackers Drue Tranquill (back injury) and Jack Cochrane (knee injury) were sidelined, too. And if that’s not enough, defensive end Ashton Gillotte has a ruptured plantar fascia, though he’s reportedly hoping to be ready for Week 1. Oh, and defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott is still on the PUP list from an ACL tear last season. It’s a miracle they even fielded a team.
This laundry list of injuries as training camp wraps up means the Chiefs have some serious work ahead of them. They need to get healthy, and fast, before the real games start. They’ve got one more exhibition to get through, and you just know they’ll be holding their breath to see who else might end up on the sidelines. Talk about starting the season behind the eight ball.
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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