Kansas City Chiefs News

The Kansas City Chiefs already have ruled out wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for their Week 8 game due to a hamstring injury.Coach Andy Reid also ruled out starting cornerback Jaylen Watson on Monday. Watson, 26, reportedly suffered a fractured ankle and could be done for the season.Smith-Schuster, 27, left Sunday's 28-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter after aggravating the hamstring he first injured Thursday in practice. He was not targeted prior to exiting.Smith-Schuster has nine catches for 147 yards and a touchdown in six games (three starts) this season.Watson was on crutches and wearing a cast after the game. He was having tests Monday to determine the severity of the injury and whether he could return this season.

Kareem Hunt rushed for two first half touchdowns Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs became the only unbeaten team in the NFL with a 28-18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., in a rematch of last season's Super Bowl.Patrick Mahomes completed 16 of 27 passes for 154 yards with two interceptions for Kansas City (6-0) but ripped off a career-high 33-yard run to set up a key fourth-quarter touchdown. The Chiefs outrushed San Francisco 184-101 and possessed the ball for more than 35 minutes while winning the rematch of last season's Super Bowl won by Kansas City.Brock Purdy hit 17 of 31 passes for 212 yards but tossed three interceptions, two of them ending potential scoring drives in the second half. The 49ers (3-4) were missing three offensive starters by the time the game ended. Wide receivers Deebo Samuel (illness) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) left before halftime and tackle Trent Williams was ejected late in the fourth quarter for throwing a punch.San Francisco pulled within 14-12 with 10:29 left in the third quarter when Purdy rushed for the first of his two touchdowns from a yard out but the 49ers failed to make the two-point conversion. It was driving for a possible go-ahead score when Purdy was picked off by Chris Roland-Wallace at the 21-yard line.Kansas City then ripped off a 79-yard, 13-play drive that lasted nearly seven minutes. Mahomes' big run set up first-and-goal at the 4 and he scored on a fourth-down run from the 1 with 14:13 left in the game.After Purdy's third interception, the Chiefs sealed the outcome by marching 80 yards in 6:20. Mecole Hardman peeled off an 18-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep with 3:09 remaining for an insurmountable 28-12 advantage.

Of course the 49ers want another shot at the Kansas City Chiefs, a replay of the Super Bowl in Las Vegas on what turned into a forgettable February afternoon for San Francisco.The Chiefs are chasing a three-peat and are off to a 5-0 start, stringing together 11 consecutive wins dating to last Christmas through the postseason. Inarguably their greatest win in that batch was the 25-22 overtime victory in which the Chiefs overcame a 10-point deficit and captured the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LVIII.San Francisco is 3-3 after taking head coach Kyle Shanahan termed a "must win" in his locker room before an NFC West grudge match at Seattle on Oct. 10. He is not going quite that far this week, but there is no denying how important the 49ers believe Sunday could be to their 2024 season."I try to have the same conversation every week, just word it a little differently -- I never want to say 'must win,'" Shanahan said. "I see this game like I see all games. Every game matters. But I didn't choose those words (must win) this week."While the 49ers are relatively rested from a 10-day window between games and want the rematch, the timing of rolling out the red carpet for the NFL's crownbearer isn't entirely perfect. Kansas City had last week off.Chiefs coach Andy Reid owns the NFL's highest winning percentage coming out of a bye week. He is 21-4 (.840), including an 8-3 record coming out of a bye week in the regular season with Kansas City.In addition, the Niners aren't exactly a picture of health. They are still without 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, and his backup, Jordan Mason, the No. 2 rusher in the NFL this season, left last week's game with a sprained shoulder.Also, 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip) and kicker Jake Moody (right ankle sprain) did not practice Wednesday. Wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. (wrist) was limited.Defensive end Mike Danna (pectoral) was the lone regular who didn't practice out of the bye for the Chiefs.Shanahan said shifts in scheme have been common in matchups with the Chiefs, altering tendencies on offense and defense in the fourth quarter particularly. The bottom line for all opponents trying to solve Kansas City is beating quarterback Patrick Mahomes."Everyone says 'down year' because their numbers aren't just crazy. But Pat's as good as it gets," said Shanahan, who is 0-7 in his career against Reid as an assistant or head coach. "He's been as good as it gets since the first year he got to play. All of their games except for one has come down to the last possession, and he's as good as it gets in that situation."Shanahan's record vs. Reid includes two defeats in 49ers-Chiefs Super Bowl matchups. Kansas City beat San Francisco 31-20 in February 2020.Injuries are not an excuse the Chiefs are introducing. Though refreshed after a week off, Kansas City is far from full strength with 12 games to go in the regular season.The Chiefs head West without No. 1 running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) and the team's top two wide receivers Hollywood Brown (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (knee), who are all on injured reserve. Familiar faces rejoined the Chiefs in recent weeks and now find themselves in prominent roles alongside Mahomes. Kareem Hunt is working as the top running back again for the Chiefs, and Kansas City rediscovered JuJu Smith-Schuster, signed off the street in August, in a seven-catch, 130-yard effort in Week 5 vs. New Orleans.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice underwent knee surgery, coach Andy Reid confirmed on Monday.Rice, 24, is facing a long recovery and rehabilitation period following posterolateral corner surgery on his injured right knee."It's probably the same result you get timewise as an ACL. It takes a while for that to come back," Reid said. "He'll get into his rehab and get rolling on that as we go here."Rice was injured when he accidentally collided with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in a Week 4 road win against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Kareem Hunt and Xavier Worthy rushed for touchdowns, Harrison Butker kicked four field goals, Patrick Mahomes passed for 331 yards and the host Kansas City Chiefs defeated the New Orleans Saints 26-13 on Monday night.JuJu Smith-Schuster caught seven passes for 130 yards and Travis Kelce made nine receptions for 70 yards to help the Chiefs (5-0) overcome the absence of injured wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice.Hunt rushed for 102 yards, while Mahomes completed 28 of 39 passes with one interception.New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr completed 18 of 28 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns with one interception before leaving the game because of an oblique injury in the fourth quarter.Rashid Shaheed finished with four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, but the Saints (2-3) lost their third consecutive game.The Chiefs had an opportunity to extend their 16-7 halftime lead on the first possession of the third quarter, but Butker's 51-yard field goal hit the right upright and caromed wide.Kansas City drove to the New Orleans 2-yard line on its next possession, but a Mahomes pass was intercepted in the end zone by defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who returned to the New Orleans 35. Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter.On the second play of the fourth quarter Carr threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Foster Moreau, pulling New Orleans within 16-13. Blake Grupe's extra-point kick was no good.

Kansas City wide receiver Rashee Rice is not expected to play again this season because of a knee injury that will require an LCL repair, NFL Network reported.Rice is scheduled for surgery Tuesday, and while LCL surgery will cause at least a three-month recovery time, it's possible his ACL and other ligaments remain intact in his right knee, which will help reduce recovery time.Rice was injured in the first quarter of the Chiefs' 17-10 victory over the host Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 29 when he took an inadvertent hit from his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.Mahomes threw an interception to Los Angeles cornerback Kristian Fulton, whose 29-yard return ended when Rice came up from behind him and poked the ball loose. Mahomes was simultaneously trying to make a tackle as Rice forced the fumble, and the signal-caller crashed into Rice's right knee.Rice, 24, was placed on injured reserve in the week leading up to Monday night's home game against the New Orleans Saints. Kansas City (4-0) is approaching its bye week, followed by games at San Francisco on Oct. 20, at Las Vegas on Oct. 27 and at home against Tampa Bay on Nov. 4.

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are nemeses to many in the NFL based on the Chiefs' track record of success approaching historic levels. Count the Chargers among the division rivals failing to live up to their end of the rivalry in recent years.When they meet Sunday at Los Angeles, Kansas City (3-0) seeks a sixth consecutive win over the Chargers (2-1) as the home team introduces first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh to what has become a one-sided AFC West fight with Reid and Mahomes. Turning the tables won't be easy."Multiple challenges," Harbaugh said of facing the Chiefs before Los Angeles enters its bye week. "Really good run game, really good throwing game, explosive offense. I think everybody understands the challenge of playing a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes in every way. His ability to move the ball with his legs, with his arm, within the offense is elite."Modest statistical production to date is becoming a hot topic outside of the Chiefs' locker room. Kansas City is 14th in the NFL in total offense (328 yards per game) and the usual lead receiver, perennial Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce, is off to an admittedly slow start with eight receptions for 69 yards and no touchdowns in three games.He's one reception from tying Tony Gonzalez for the franchise record with 916 catches, and Kelce's next TD catch from Mahomes would break a tie on the NFL's all-time list with Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham of the Saints for third-most QB-TE touchdown connections. But Reid said the narrative of Kelce being "old" or "distracted" is false."Defenses don't think that," Reid said. "We have another receiver who plays opposite him that has a lot of yards and catches. That's how this thing goes. Travis is fine. He's being Trav. He works his tail off. He hasn't lost a step and all those things. He's not distracted. People are making sure they have him taking care of, these defenses."Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is working through an ankle injury while starring as Mahomes' featured target in September with an NFL-high 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Mahomes has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 659 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions through three games.The Chargers present a hefty challenge with a defense ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense (11 points per game, third), yards per game (267, sixth), run defense (91.7 per game, sixth) and pass defense (175.3 per game, 10th)."It's a physical football team, both sides of the ball," said Reid, who has a record of 17-5 against the Chargers since taking over the Chiefs in 2013. "You've got to be ready for a complete game. Their defenses are going to give you a variety of looks. One of the top defenses in the NFL right now."Mahomes will look across the line at a defense with a few missing pieces. Pass rusher Joey Bosa (hip) and linebacker Junior Colson (hamstring) sat out Wednesday's practice. Safety Derwin James Jr. was suspended for Week 4 after being penalized for unnecessary roughness at Pittsburgh.Elijah Molden or A.J. Finley will get the start -- along with Alohi Gilman -- at safety against the Chiefs."He genuinely cares and does not want to hurt anybody," Harbaugh said of James' one-game ban from the NFL. "He wants to do it the way the league wants it done and the evidence is there."It will be next man-up mentality."

Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce said he isn't too worried about his lack of production to start the season.As long as the team keeps winning, that is.Kelce has totaled just eight catches for 69 yards in three games this season. The four-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowl selection said Wednesday on his "New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce" podcast that he feels the way opposing defenses have played the Chiefs thus far has prevented the ball from routinely coming his way."With how defenses are playing us right now, I'm not really getting a lot of opportunities to make plays down the field but (I'm) not using that as an excuse," Travis Kelce said. "Moving forward, still trying to make sure that I help the team out in that regard knowing I've been that weapon for us in the past."Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes noted earlier in the week that Kelce is drawing plenty of attention from opposing defenses."Yeah, it's crazy because teams still -- the respect factor they have for Travis is just unreal," Mahomes said. "It's well-deserved, but we're calling a lot of plays for Travis, and it's like two or three people are going to him. So, I mean, he understands."I think that's the great thing about him is he wants to make an impact on the game, but he wants to win at the end of the day."Travis Kelce, who turns 35 on Oct. 5, led the Chiefs with 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. He sat out Week 17 against the Los Angeles Chargers, forgoing a chance to stretch his streak of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to eight in order to enter the playoffs healthy.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed Kareem Hunt to the 53-man active roster and waived fellow running back Keaontay Ingram on Tuesday.The Chiefs had signed Hunt, who was a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie with Kansas City in 2017, to the practice squad last Wednesday when starter Isiah Pacheco went on injured reserve with a fractured fibula. Pacheco will be out a minimum of four games. Ingram had been signed to the active roster the same day.Kansas City had turned to veteran Samaje Perine and undrafted rookie Carson Steele in Pacheco's absence before bringing in Hunt.Hunt, 29, was a third-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2017 draft and rushed for 2,151 yards and 15 touchdowns in 27 games (all starts) during his two seasons (2017-18) in Kansas City.Kansas City released Hunt in November 2018 after a video surfaced of him shoving and kicking a woman in a hotel. After authorities did not move forward with criminal charges, Hunt rebooted his career with the Cleveland Browns in 2019.Hunt appeared in 15 games (two starts) for Cleveland last season, taking on a bigger workload after starter Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2.

ATLANTA -- Patrick Mahomes completed 26 of 39 passes for 217 yards to go along with two touchdowns and an interception as the Kansas City Chiefs escaped with a 22-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.Carson Steele ran for 72 yards as the Chiefs (3-0) won their third one-score game to begin the season. Rashee Rice hauled in 12 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown.Kirk Cousins completed 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown for Atlanta (1-2). He was also intercepted once. Drake London caught six passes for a team-high 67 yards and a touchdown.After trailing 14-13 at halftime, the Chiefs marched to the Falcons 1-yard line on the opening possession of the second half but were forced to settle for Harrison Butker's 21-yard field goal with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter.Mahomes later extended the Kansas City lead to 22-14 when he capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 13-yard scoring strike to JuJu Smith-Schuster with 1:16 to go in the third. Butker missed the ensuing extra-point attempt.Younghoe Koo's 54-yard field goal on the next possession cut Atlanta's deficit to 22-17 with 12:52 left in the game.Following a Kansas City punt, the Falcons went on a 15-play, 83-yard drive, but they came up short of the end zone after back-to-back incompletions from the Chiefs 6-yard line and turned the ball over on downs.

ATLANTA -- Ahead of their Week 3 matchup on Sunday night, the Atlanta Falcons and visiting Kansas City Chiefs have already grown accustomed to playing in evenly matched games this season.The two-time defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs (2-0) narrowly escaped the Baltimore Ravens on opening night, 27-20, before Harrison Butker's 51-yard field goal with three seconds left saved the day in their one-point win over the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.For the first time this season, the Chiefs hit the road as they visit Atlanta for the first time since 2016. They will face a Falcons team that was on the brink of hosting the mighty Chiefs with an 0-2 record. After an anemic offensive showing in an 18-10 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, the Falcons (1-1) stole a win in Philadelphia on Monday night, using a last-minute touchdown drive to beat the Eagles 22-21.Trailing by six with 1:39 left, Kirk Cousins led the Falcons on a six-play, 70-yard game-winning drive, earning his first win for his new team following the signing of a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta. Head coach Raheem Morris, who also secured his first win as the Falcons' head coach, wasn't surprised by the way his veteran quarterback led the final drive."I know what that confidence looks like from practice. I know what his confidence looks like from every day walking down the hall with him and watching his process," Morris added. "I didn't need to look at him before that drive. Before the game, we said we're going to do it for each other and that's exactly what they did."The Falcons, who have returned to a state of relevance after several years of national apathy, are coming off their first "Monday Night Football" appearance since 2020. Now they prepare for their first "Sunday Night Football" game since 2019.The Chiefs have won eight straight games (including the playoffs) since last year's Christmas Day loss to the Raiders. Kansas City's win streak will be put to the test on Sunday without leading rusher Isiah Pacheco.Pacheco's leg was caught under a defender in Sunday's win, fracturing his right fibula. In his absence, the Chiefs signed former running back Kareem Hunt, who rushed for 2,151 yards with the team from 2017-18. Hunt had been in a primarily backup role with Cleveland from 2019 through last season."(Pacheco's) been put on IR, he's having surgery today," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. "I can't give you a time when he's going to return. We'll see if it's this season or next season."

The Kansas City Chiefs placed running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve Wednesday.Pacheco is expected to undergo surgery on his fractured fibula Wednesday, three days after he sustained the injury during Kansas City's 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.The move on Wednesday guarantees Pacheco will sit out at least the next four games.Reports have Pacheco sidelined for 6-8 weeks. However, Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters Wednesday that he could not relay a precise timeline for the running back's expected absence.The Chiefs addressed their backfield on Wednesday by signing Keaontay Ingram to the active roster and fellow running back Kareem Hunt to the practice squad."We'll get (Hunt) in there and get him some work. Kind of get him back in the swing of playing and we'll just see," Reid said. "We've got to get him in a position to where he's ready to play either this, next week or the following week."Pacheco, 25, had 90 yards on 19 carries and caught five passes for 21 yards on Sunday. He has a team-high 135 rushing yards through two games.Since being drafted in the seventh round in 2022, Pacheco has won two Super Bowl championships and racked up 2,328 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns in 33 games (26 starts). He has another 635 yards and four TDs from scrimmage in seven playoff starts.Veteran Samaje Perine, 29, is listed as Pacheco's backup on the depth chart but played sparingly on Sunday. He's viewed as a third-down back.Undrafted rookie Carson Steele, 21, carried seven times for 24 yards and lost a fumble against Cincinnati.Hunt, 29, was a third-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft and spent most of the first two years of his professional career in Kansas City, including a Pro Bowl rookie season in which he posted 1,327 rushing yards to lead the league.

With an urgent need to fill the slot of injured rusher Isiah Pacheco, the Kansas City Chiefs are returning to a familiar face, signing running back Kareem Hunt to the practice squad Tuesday, according to multiple reports.Pacheco, 25, is expected to be out 6-8 weeks with a fractured fibula. He was injured Sunday on a 1-yard run on the drive that ended with Harrison Butker's game-winning field goal in Kansas City's 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.Hunt, 29, was a third-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft and spent most of the first two years of his professional career in Kansas City, including a Pro Bowl rookie season where he posted 1,327 rushing yards to lead the league.Kansas City released Hunt in November 2018 after a video surfaced of him shoving and kicking a woman in a hotel. After authorities did not move forward with criminal charges, Hunt rebooted his career with the Cleveland Browns in 2019.Last season, he appeared in 15 games with two starts for the Browns. He was re-signed after starter Nick Chubb went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 2. He rushed 135 times for 411 yards with nine touchdowns and also caught 15 passes for 84 yards.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is expected to land on injured reserve with a fractured fibula sustained in Sunday's win against the Cincinnati Bengals, NFL Network reported Monday.Pacheco had X-rays on his right ankle after the 26-25 victory and was scheduled to have an MRI on Monday.Pacheco, 25, was seen with a walking boot and crutches leaving Arrowhead Stadium.He left the game with under two minutes remaining after being bent backward during a tackle by one defender while another had hold of his leg during a 1-yard run. The injury occurred during the Kansas City drive that ended with Harrison Butker's game-ending 51-yard field goal.After the game, head coach Andy Reid indicated said he was in wait-and-see mode."I don't actually know right now. I've just got to see," Reid said. "They're doing all the stuff right now, so I haven't really had a chance to talk to him or anything about it."

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco injured his right ankle during Sunday's 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.Pacheco left the stadium on crutches and sporting a boot.Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he was waiting on test results but indicated the injury was significant."The only major injury would be Isiah Pacheco," Reid said. "He's having tests on it now -- X-Rays all that stuff."Pressed on the severity, Reid indicated he was in wait-and-see mode."I don't actually know right now. I've just got to see," Reid said. "They're doing all the stuff right now, so I haven't really had a chance to talk to him or anything about it."

KANSAS CITY -- Harrison Butker converted a 51-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Kansas City Chiefs past the visiting Cincinnati Bengals 26-25 on Sunday.Patrick Mahomes completed 18 of 25 passes for just 151 yards. He tossed two touchdowns, including a 44-yarder to Rashee Rice, but added two interceptions.With his team down two, Mahomes received one final chance after rookie safety Daijahn Anthony was called for pass interference with 38 seconds remaining as the Chiefs faced fourth-and-16 from their own 35.Joe Burrow was 23-of-36 for 258 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to Andrei Iosivas.The game was another installment of one of the NFL's most riveting rivalries of the last four years. Burrow is 3-2 lifetime against Mahomes.Burrow started the game completing his first six targets to tight ends for 93 yards, three of which went to Drew Sample and another two to rookie Erick All.After a 33-yard Evan McPherson field goal made it 13-10 in the second quarter, Cincinnati's Sheldon Rankins punched the ball loose from running back Carson Steele at midfield and Germaine Pratt recovered. The Bengals converted with McPherson's third field goal of the day, a 48-yarder.Trey Hendrickson, who beat rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia for two sacks, provided a key spark to the defense with a sack of Patrick Mahomes on Kansas City's final drive before the half.The Chiefs drove 70 yards on the opening possession of the second half and took their first lead of the game, 17-16, on a 1-yard tackle-eligible pass to Wanya Morris.

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins will likely miss a second straight game Sunday when his club visits the two-time defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs.Higgins (hamstring) missed the season-opening loss to the New England Patriots and didn't practice at all this week. On Friday, the club listed Higgins as doubtful for the game against Kansas City.Bengals coach Zac Taylor didn't sound overly optimistic while updating Higgins' injury on Friday."We'll see," Taylor said. "I'm not going to rule him out yet for Sunday. We'll see where he's at."Higgins injured the hamstring during a practice on Sept. 5.In the offseason, Cincinnati placed the $21.8 million franchise tag on Higgins to prevent him from seeking offers from other teams.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown needs shoulder surgery and is going on injured reserve, multiple media outlets reported on Friday.Brown, 27, missed the season-opening win against the Baltimore Ravens and will be required to sit out at least the next four games. His earliest return date would be after Kansas City's bye in Week 6.Brown has not practiced since dislocating the sternoclavicular joint in his left shoulder on the Chiefs' first offensive play in their Aug. 10 preseason opener.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs will look to build upon their momentum from a dramatic opening-night win while the visiting Cincinnati Bengals will aim to forget a dismal showing in their opener when the teams meet Sunday.The Chiefs (1-0) held on for a 27-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens when Isaiah Likely's toe landed just out of bounds in the closing seconds, nullifying his would-be touchdown grab.The Bengals (0-1) saw their offense sputter in a stunning 16-10 home loss to the rebuilding New England Patriots, with Joe Burrow completing 21 of 29 passes but only for 164 yards and no touchdowns.The Chiefs and Bengals are certainly no strangers to each other. They are meeting for the sixth time in the last four seasons, with the Bengals winning three times, including the AFC Championship Game after the 2021 season in Kansas City.The Chiefs returned the favor in the AFC Championship Game the following year, quarterback Patrick Mahomes' first win over Burrow in four meetings.Last season, the Chiefs topped the Bengals 25-17 in Week 17, a game Burrow missed with torn ligaments in his right wrist. Jake Browning started in Burrow's place and the Bengals lost, eliminating them from postseason contention."Yeah, of course, you miss that," Burrow said of sitting out last season's matchup. "I just miss playing football. I miss being out there with the guys, so it's a luxury right now to be criticized by all (the media) about how we played on Sunday, because I was sitting in the wings for seven weeks last year. So I'm just excited to be out there."Injuries could again play a key factor in Sunday's outcome. On Wednesday, Burrow addressed his recovery from wrist surgery, as cameras caught him repeatedly flexing and rubbing his wrist during the Week 1 loss."It feels better this week than it did last week, than it did the week before, so it's continually getting better," Burrow said of the wrist.While Burrow was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, receiver Tee Higgins, who missed Week 1 with a strained hamstring, did not practice. The Bengals are hopeful to get rookie right tackle Amarius Mims back and could get rookie defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. back after thumb surgery on Sept. 6.Veteran receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown could be back for Kansas City to join Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce in the passing attack. Brown missed most of the preseason and the regular-season opener due to a shoulder dislocation he sustained during Kansas City's preseason opener.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy blasted the Kansas City Chiefs' medical staff for what he said was "unacceptable" and "super unprofessional" behavior after he sustained a fractured orbital bone in Thursday's season opener.Van Noy was addressed by the Ravens' medical staff on the field after he was injured while chasing Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes early in the third quarter. Van Noy, however, claims the Chiefs' in-house ophthalmologist didn't see him in a timely manner."I was disappointed in the way the training staff of the Chiefs handled the situation," he said on his "McCoy & Van Noy" podcast Tuesday. "When things like that hurt, especially something that could be serious like mine was, you're supposed to rely on the team's training staff or their doctors and I was supposed to see an ophthalmologist -- which is somebody who checks out eye(s), performs eye surgery and they took an entire quarter to get down to talk to me in the locker room. Which, to me, is unacceptable."Because then you start thinking, ‘What if I was trying to go back in the game? What if I was really, really hurt?' I know mine was moderate but it still serious because it's an eye (injury). And your expectation of someone to be down there as the training staff asked them to be down there would have had a little more urgency. The way it took time was super unprofessional to me."The Chiefs had yet to publicly respond to Van Noy's comments as of Wednesday afternoon.