RSS Chiefs Team Notes

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Let’s Argue: There is little to complain about

In our “Let’s Argue” series, our Mark Gunnels considers the hot takes, wacky predictions and unpopular opinions of Kansas City Chiefs fans from all over the world.

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The Chiefs’ defense has a lower ceiling in 2025​

I think the defense has a lower ceiling this season.

— Squabb Tonyan  (@emceereach) August 25, 2025

I actually believe the opposite.

With the losses of Justin Reid, Turk Wharton and Mike Pennel, it’s clear general manager Brett Veach and company are going with the youth movement — although the unit’s core with Chris Jones, Nick Bolton and Trent McDuffie remains intact.

But it’s going to come down to players like George Karlaftis, Leo Chenal, Jaden Hicks, and others to determine how good or bad this unit will be. That’s why I believe the ceiling is higher, while the floor is probably lower.

At the end of the day, I trust defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

The Chiefs should have kept Justin Reid​

Shoulda never let J Reid go.

— Rx13yz (@Rx13yz) August 26, 2025

This ties into what I just said.

While they aren’t exactly equivalent players, Justin Reid played Tyrann Mathieu’s defensive role during the past three seasons. Reid brought tenacity, physicality and leadership to the back end.

Now, it’ll be up to Bryan Cook and Jaden Hicks to take over that role.

The Chiefs should lock up Isiah Pacheco​

I think the Chiefs should lock up Pacheco now while his 4th year still offers much cap flexibility.

— Mr.Brownstone (@FFBallAppraiser) August 26, 2025

The Pacheco discussion has been flying under the radar.

All the talk — and deservedly so — has been about the future of two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. According to reports, the two sides are holding off on contract discussions until after the season. There’s no doubt in my mind that both want to get a deal done.

Chris Jones has been the defensive anchor for the last seven years. As he grows older, it would make sense for McDuffie to start assuming his role as the unit’s leader.

There’s even been some whispers of a potential Rashee Rice contract in 2026.

But as far as Pacheco goes, we haven’t really heard much. Before the 2026 season, he’ll turn 27. That isn’t old by any means, but it’s trending toward the running back’s dreaded thirtieth birthday.

While he clearly wasn’t the same after returning from injury last season, Pacheco has now had a full offseason to recover — and after seeing him run in the preseason, it looks like he’s got his juice back.

Considering how thin the team is at running back — and assuming Pacheco stays healthy — I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Chiefs bring him back on a two or three-year deal.

There is little to complain about​

There is little to complain about.

— Reagan’s America (@ReaganGOP8084) August 26, 2025

I absolutely love this response.

If you’ve been a Chiefs fan before this run, you should have a great appreciation for what we’ve witnessed over the last seven years.

Far too often, Kansas City fans complain about the organization’s front office and coaching decisions. I’m not going to say that Brett Veach, Andy Reid and the rest are above criticism.

Nonetheless, 31 other fanbases would gladly trade places with Chiefs Kingdom.

We should never forget that.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-hots-takes-there-is-little-to-complain-about

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

The Chiefs’ 3 biggest questions against the Chargers

Throughout the season, I’ll be looking at three questions I have for each of the Kansas City Chiefs‘ upcoming opponents. For Week 1, Kansas City faces a familiar foe: its AFC West rival, the Los Angeles Chargers. Here’s what I’ll be looking for when the game starts.

1. Can the Chiefs’ pass rush overwhelm the Chargers’ offensive line?​

Season-ending injuries are terrible — particularly when they happen before it gets underway. During the offseason, the Chargers’ Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater tore his patellar tendon. He will not play in 2025.

But even before the injury, there were some question marks about the Los Angeles offensive line. While Slater and Joe Alt looked elite at tackle, the interior of the offensive line wasn’t even close to that level. And despite being bad in 2024, the Chargers didn’t do much about it for 2025.

Los Angeles did sign Mehki Becton from the Philadelphia Eagles — but while he had a great 2024 season, he has health concerns. He missed three weeks of training camp with an undisclosed injury. But aside from him, the Chargers have the same interior players who struggled last year.

And with Slater out, they must now deal with a concern at right tackle, because Alt has moved to the left side. Going into the season, this might be a bottom-5 offensive line. This allows Kansas City to get its pass rush going early. If I’m to believe the defensive line can improve from a subpar 2024, I’ll need to see the Chiefs impact the pocket throughout the game.

2. Can the Chiefs’ offense be explosive against Jesse Minter’s defense?​

One of last season’s surprises was how well the Los Angeles defense played. In the Brandon Staley era, the unit was a disaster. The team didn’t make any meaningful personnel moves before defensive coordinator Jesse Minter took over, so it was unclear whether the former Michigan coach could make a big improvement.

But in his first season, the Chargers’ defense dramatically exceeded expectations. Even with some shaky performances against top offenses, Los Angeles finished seventh in total success rate — fourth in passing and 15th against the run. Considering his personnel limitations, Minter did a tremendous job — and his defense played a big role in getting the Chargers into the playoffs.

Minter’s defense got the job done by keeping a lid on explosive downfield plays, relying on deep zone coverage to protect it over the top. This allowed defenders to rally to the ball. Since it didn’t have the bodies for it, the unit didn’t blitz or use man coverage. Instead, it forced opposing offenses into long drives — and made enough stops to make it a top-10 defense.

So for the Chiefs, the challenge will be to find explosive plays against Minter’s defense. Throughout the offseason, we’ve heard about Kansas City taking more deep shots — but against the Chargers’ defense, those might not be available. How can the Chiefs create some explosive plays?

Los Angeles plays with very light boxes, so there should be opportunities for the Chiefs to be explosive on the ground. If Isiah Pacheco is going to have a great year, we should be able to see him get into space on Friday night. This will also be a great test for Kansas City’s wide receivers. Will they be able to break tackles — something they couldn’t do often enough in 2024? The wideouts are clearly more dynamic. Will that translate to success?

3. What can we expect from the Chiefs’ run defense?​

During the preseason, we saw Kansas City’s run defense struggle — especially against the Seahawks, who gained 268 yards on the ground. I try not to take much away from any preseason game — but in Seattle, the run defense looked pretty shaky.

Besides… we know the Chargers are going to run the ball. Even with their bad offensive line (and poor running backs) in 2024, they were committed to establishing that identity — because that’s what any team with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman will do. While the offensive line is still an issue for this season, Los Angeles did invest a first-round pick into running back Omarion Hampton — and signed Najee Harris in free agency, too.

In this game, Hampton will probably be the main rusher. His combination of power and explosiveness reminds me of Joe Mixon — and I think the Chargers will feed him touches to limit what their offensive line has to do in pass protection.

For the Chiefs, I’m primarily interested in seeing how the safeties will do against the run. In 2024, Justin Reid played a key role in the run defense. He could target and tackle running backs one-on-one, which allowed the team to have a great run defense — even while using a quarters-based coverage scheme. Will the guys replacing Reid be able to do that? Hampton is a home-run threat on any play, so Kansas City’s safeties will be the last line of defense. I’ll be interested to see how they perform.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...5/3-biggest-questions-against-chargers-week-1

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

5 things to watch as the Chiefs play the Chargers in Week 1

On Friday night, the defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs will open up the 2025 season against the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil. After a long offseason, the Patrick Mahomes era continues — giving Kansas City another chance to compete for an NFL Championship in Super Bowl LX.

Entering their second season under head coach Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles hopes to build upon a strong 2024 campaign in which it made the postseason, but was eliminated by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round.

This early AFC West showdown could end up being an important factor in the 2025 season.

1. Field conditions​

In last season’s inaugural NFL game in Brazil — a matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles — the headlines weren’t about the Eagles’ victory. Instead, they were dominated by the field conditions — which appeared to have played a role in an injury sustained by Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love.

The NFL has assured both teams that field conditions have been improved, but it will be worth watching whether this poses an issue to either team.

2. Defensive tackle rotations​

The Chiefs made headlines by releasing veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel at the 53-man cutdown. After being a key piece on the 2019 and 2020 teams, Pennel rejoined the team in 2023, adding another Super Bowl ring and playing a crucial role on the defense’s running downs.

Pennel then signed with the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad, which effectively ended his second Kansas City stint. Since he had been in the team’s starting rotation for most of training camp, Pennel’s release was surprising — even though right before his release, the Chiefs had made a trade to bring defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi back to the squad. In March, the team had allowed Nnadi to walk after seven seasons with the team.

But even with Nnadi back in the fold, Kansas City is thin at the position. All-Pro Chris Jones headlines the group, which also includes new veteran Jerry Tillery and rookie Omarr Norman-Lott. We’ll probably see defensive end Mike Danna rotate inside on some passing downs, too.

In 2024, the Chargers were one of the league’s best rushing teams — and with first-round rookie Omarion Hampton poised to take most of the carries, stopping the run will be a major priority for the defensive line.

3. The left side of the offensive line​

Rookie left tackle Josh Simmons and left guard Kingsley Suamataia will have their work cut out for them against a solid Charger defensive front — one that includes future Hall of Famer Khalil Mack. One of the league’s fiercest pass rushers, he’ll be facing a rookie in his first career start.

Early on, the Chargers will probably challenge both Simmons and Suamataia with a combination of blitzes and line stunts that use Mack and edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu, who finished 2024 with 8.5 sacks. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has also shown exotic looks on third down. We should watch for him to give the inexperienced part of the Kansas City’s line lots of different tricks.

Simmons and Suamatia will need to remain true to their training, finding a way to balance the highs and lows they might face.

4. When will the Chiefs go deep?​

Ever since the offseason began, the Chiefs have been emphasizing pushing the ball downfield — getting back to the explosive offense that was the hallmark of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ early years. With star receiver Rashee Rice suspended for the first six games of the season, the Chiefs could try to make up for his absence by going downfield.

Former first-round pick Xavier Worthy is primed for a breakout season. Alongside Hollywood Brown and Tyquan Thornton, he should provide the downfield speed the team hasn’t had since trading Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins.

Throughout training camp, Mahomes threw the ball downfield with confidence. Watch to see how quickly Kansas City will turn to its downfield passing game — and how well it works. Given time, the Chiefs could transform an offense that has played pretty conservatively over the last couple of seasons.

5. Trent McDuffie against Ladd McConkey​

The matchup between these two Macs — the Kansas City cornerback and the Los Angeles wide receiver — will be important. McDuffie is emerging as one of the NFL’s best slot defenders, while McConkey is becoming one of the top slot receivers. Both are key cogs in their teams’ systems, and the matchup between the two players could be one of the game’s deciding factors.

In 2024, McDuffie made his second All-Pro team — while McConkey finished his rookie season with over 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

While McConkey didn’t play against the Chiefs in last season’s Week 14, he caught five passes for 67 yards and a touchdown in the Week 4 matchup. Now established as a favorite target for quarterback Justin Herbert, McConkey could see a big 2025 — but in the season opener, he will have to face one of the league’s best.

It should be quite a show.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...2/chiefs-chargers-5-things-to-watch-in-week-1

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Chargers 5 questions with the enemy: How good is LA’s reshuffled offensive line?

On Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil. We welcome Michael Peterson of Bolts from the Blue — our sister SBNation site covering the Chargers — for Five Questions with the Enemy.

1. While Ladd McConkey is among the league’s best young receivers, he needed some postseason help. How are the players the Chargers have put around him?​

I think they’ve done a phenomenal job of rounding out the receiver room with other young talent (Tre’ Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith) and a legitimate veteran presence: Keenan Allen. As a rookie early on, McConkey was really forced into leading that group — and he obviously thrived despite the circumstances. And with Allen back, the Chargers can move McConkey around without sacrificing a threat in the slot. Both Harris and KLS looked good on the outside during the preseason; when isolated, each hauled in their fair share of contested catches. I can’t predict the ceiling for this group — but I do feel strongly that in the years to come, they will end up being one of the league’s best.

2. With the injury to Rashawn Slater, the Chargers have been dealt a huge blow. They are lucky to have Joe Alt to slide over, but how strong is the offensive line?​

If everyone was healthy, this might be a top-8 unit — or somewhere in the top 10. But without Slater — and with left guard Zion Johnson and center Bradley Bozeman back this season — I do not have all that much confidence in the group. Slater and Johnson were the weakest links — and the Bolts did not do enough to try and upgrade more on the interior. With Slater out, Alt and Mehki Becton must play above themselves to raise the level of the guys between them.

The addition of Omarion Hampton may make the whole group look a lot better, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team struggle to establish the run better than they did a year ago.

3. Fans know Khalil Mack and Derwin James. Football junkies are already in on Tuli Tuipulotu. Who is a Chargers’ defensive standout who will make a big mark in 2025?​

I think if the Chargers’ defense wants to be dominant again in 2025, second-year cornerback Tarheeb Still will have to put together another strong season after leading the team in both pass breakups (10) and interceptions (4) as a rookie. The team added veteran Donte Jackson (5 interceptions in 2024) and Benjamin St-Juste in free agency, but only Jackson won a starting job next to Still. Jackson’s interceptions total last year looks good, but he was still open to being exploited at a clip higher than we’d like to see. Without any marquee names at cornerback, players like Still will have to hold the group up — or out of nowhere, the position could easily become one of the roster’s weak spots.

4. The Chiefs signed cornerback Kristian Fulton. How do you expect the former Charger to fit into Steve Spagnuolo’s defense?​

I think the best way to get the most out of Fulton is for the Chiefs’ front seven to force quick passes via pressure. In coverage last season, Fulton allowed the most touchdowns — and had a very rough end to his short tenure in Los Angeles. That unsurprisingly led to not being re-signed. Spags is a very good defensive coordinator. He will need to put as little as possible on Fulton’s plate, hoping he can become a ball-hawking, opportunistic defender. But if you asking him to cover an opposing WR1, it may not end up going very well.

5. Everything is weird about this Week 1 game — from the country to the day of the week. How do you see it playing out?​

I think it’s going to be competitive from start to finish. I think both teams will take their lumps — and each side will see momentum swing away (and back) quite a bit. But until proven otherwise, this one is likely to end with the Chiefs having the ball at the end — walking off with a win. We’ve all seen this movie many, many times. If the Chargers want things to end differently, they’ll have to make it happen. Until then, this is Kansas City’s game.

You can see the answers I gave to the Chargers’ questions by clicking here.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ions-with-the-enemy-reshuffled-offensive-line

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

5 winners and 5 losers from the Chiefs’ loss to the Chargers in Brazil

Already short on wide receivers as they opened the season against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil, the Kansas City Chiefs lost Xavier Worthy to a shoulder injury on the game’s third offensive play. Then they lost the Chargers’ receivers in coverage. Then they lost containment against Justin Herbert to seal their 27-21 loss.

What a way to start a season, huh?

It could have been worse — and without quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ hero-ball performance, it likely would have been.

It’s a long flight to Brazil. With emotions high after such a frustrating outcome, the flight home must have been even worse.

Here are a few who stood out as the Chiefs stumbled out of the gate to begin the 2025 season.

Winners​

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes: There were plenty of missed opportunities — including some long passes that were just off target. But the two-time MVP did his best to put the team on his back and drag it down the field — and Mahomes’ best is quite a lot. He led the team in rushing, scoring on the ground (and through the air) as he accounted for 315 total yards. Had the Chiefs been able to get the ball back at the end of the game, perhaps we’d remember the spectacular passes Mahomes was able to complete on Friday night, like the horizontal throw and the throw on the run while getting hit. Mahomes Magic is alive and well.

Tight end Travis Kelce: While Ms. Swift’s fiancée only had two catches, one was a beautiful 37-yard touchdown. The broadcast cameras caught what might have been an equally impactful moment where the veteran held the team’s right tackle accountable for his mistakes. This was the type of game we always want Kelce to have: a couple of catches and some veteran leadership.

Linebacker Drue Tranquill: On a night where the linebackers didn’t play very well, Tranquill stepped up — showing fire and leadership against his former team. Recording five tackles (two for a loss) and two sacks, Tranquill was the defense’s most impactful player. And like Kelce, Tranquill did what he could to hold teammates accountable, letting Chris Jones hear it when the All-Pro defensive tackle made a critical mistake.

Cornerback Trent McDuffie: The defense’s other All-Pro was great against the Chargers. He may have been the only member of the secondary who was able to cover anyone. He batted down a pass and had five tackles.

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub: It was one of the best moments in an otherwise forgettable game: the “fire drill” 59-yard field goal at the end of the first half. Getting the right squad on the field and lining it up in time for a snap as time expires isn’t easy, but the special team’s execution and timing were perfect. Of course, it’s also impressive that Butker was able to drive home such a long field goal in that situation. Still, the success of the whole unit on this play served to remind us that Toub is still one of the best in the business.

Losers​

Right Tackle Jawaan Taylor: His blocking wasn’t perfect, but it would have been good enough. The five penalties, however, are another matter. That’s not going to cut it.

The passing defense: Whom should I call out when the entire defense managed so little pass rush, left open receivers on every play and allowed the opposing quarterback to have one of his best games ever? There were struggles at all three levels. If this was a personnel issue, it should have already been solved. If it was just an off game, we should expect to see a huge bounce-back performance against the Philadelphia Eagles on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday.

Running back Isiah Pacheco: On the plus side, he gained five yards per attempt. But on the minus side, he only had five carries; the Chiefs couldn’t get anything going on the ground. As a receiver, Pacheco turned three targets into two catches for only three yards. For teams to respect any threat of a running game, Pacheco will need to step up — and the team needs to give him the opportunities to do so. If not, Mahomes might be in for a long year.

Head coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo: When motivation and emotion look inconsistent and execution is rough — and the same issues pop up over and over again — that’s on the coaches. They have to adjust their plans, make sure players are ready and put them in a position to win. While Friday’s matchup wasn’t as lopsided a loss as Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, it had some of the same problems: a lack of pass rush, no running game… and no answers.

Note: Applying the labels “winners” and “losers” is not intended to be a judgment on the talent or character of any of these players or coaches. It’s just a simple way to grade their performance in a single game. No disrespect should be inferred.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-chargers-5-winners-5-losers-from-week-1-loss

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

5 things we learned from the Chiefs’ loss to the Chargers in Brazil

Well, that wasn’t a very fun way to start the season.

During Friday night’s early going, the Kansas City Chiefs looked jet-lagged and sluggish against a rejuvenated, hungry Los Angeles Chargers team that at last looks prepared to give the Chiefs a run for their money in the race for the AFC West crown. Playing on an international stage, the Chiefs had an opportunity to make this a statement game. But instead, they left São Paulo with more questions than answers after losing their season opener 27-21.

Here are five other things we learned in the Week 1 loss.

1. The Chiefs are suddenly thin at wide receiver​

With Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals on the field, the Chiefs’ receiving corps looked potent and ready to make some noise. But with all three out of the mix, the Kansas City offense suddenly looked a whole lot less explosive. It wasn’t until late in the first half that we began to see some chunk plays from the team’s offense, but even these were few and far between.

For much of the game, the Chiefs’ passing attack looked like it was pulling teeth to move down the field. Luckily, we have a firm date for Rice’s return — and hopefully, Worthy and Royals will be back as well. Because here’s the unfortunate truth: Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton are fine role players. But if they are the team’s starting wideouts, there’s a problem.

2. They are who we thought they were​

Take your pick: Jawaan Taylor, Kingsley Suamataia or Chamarri Conner.

I don’t want to continue to harp on how poorly these three continue to play, because it’s just not fair to expect them to be more than they are. At this point, we have enough evidence to know they just don’t have the skills to perform their duties as NFL players.

Taylor and Conner’s shortcomings were especially on display on Friday night. Both were routinely smoked by the competition. I think it’s fair to say that if they had played even 50% better, the Chiefs would have been in a position to win the game.

3. The coaching staff needs to find a way to motivate the team​

The Chiefs came out flat on both sides of the ball. If it were just the offense or defense, then the team have could overcome the lack of energy by holding on until the rest of the team decided to wake up.

But in the first half, the Chiefs looked utterly absent.

It’s the coaching staff’s job to make sure their players are prepared — and up — for the game. This time, head coach Andy Reid and his staff dropped the ball. The team looked disjointed, slow and sloppy. The NFL’s margin for error is just too small. If the Chiefs continue to play as they did Friday, they’re in real trouble.

4. The Chiefs have a problem with their pass rush​

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense was unable to generate pressure against the Chargers without dialing up exotic blitzes that were disguised at the line of scrimmage. These plays are fine in small doses — and can lead to big defensive plays, too. But they lose their effectiveness when they are overused. So the team must figure out how to generate pass rush with only four down linemen.

Otherwise, we’re going to continue to see the same result: opposing quarterbacks getting as much time as they want to make plays.

5. Mahomes still has it​

While missing his top weapons (and running for his life), quarterback Patrick Mahomes showed that he still has that Magic Mahomes lurking down inside him. Whether he was throwing the ball while being 100% horizontal in the air or scrambling outside the pocket to gain additional yardage, Mahomes’ Friday night performance was nothing short of sorcery.

He played well enough to keep his team in contention until the very end. Even with everything else that went wrong on Friday, Mahomes still nearly willed his team to victory.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...chiefs-chargers-5-things-we-learned-in-week-1

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Week 1 Sunday games discussion

For the NFL’s Week 1, there’s a full slate of Sunday action:

Early games​

• Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets (CBS, locally on KCTV/5)
• Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots (CBS)
• Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (FOX)
• Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts (CBS)
• Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars (FOX)
• Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints (CBS)
• New York Giants at Washington Commanders (FOX)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons (FOX)

Late games​

• Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos FOX, (locally on WDAF/4)
• Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (CBS, locally on KCTV/5)
• Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams (CBS)
• San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (FOX)

Sunday Night Football​

• Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills (NBC, locally on KSHB/41)

Let’s talk about Sunday’s action!

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kansas-city-chiefs-discussions/181049/week-1-sunday-games-discussion

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Teair Tart taunts Travis Kelce on social media following slap

The latest​

Biggest remaining need for each NFL team ahead of Week 1: Lions edge rushers, Jets WRs problem spots | CBS Sports

Kansas City Chiefs: Cornerback

The Chiefs signed Kristian Fulton, which allowed Trent McDuffie to move back to the slot. Jaylen Watson is the other projected starter. A lot could go wrong with that plan. It would not be a surprise if McDuffie moves back outside before season’s end.

Kansas City has added some competition along its offensive line by signing Jaylon Moore and drafting Josh Simmons after trading away Joe Thuney. The left guard spot vacated by Thuney is currently filled by Kingsley Suamataia. There has been cautious optimism regarding his capacity to fill that role.

2025-26 Super Bowl Predictions: Experts Pick Who Will Play in and Win SB LX | FOX Sports

Chris Fallica
Kansas City Chiefs (+850) over Detroit Lions

As much as people hate to admit it, the road to the Super Bowl still goes through Arrowhead in the AFC. Expect to see a very motivated Chiefs team this year after the Super Bowl embarrassment to end last season. Remember when coordinator changes were supposed to affect the Eagles adversely? Well, all they did was win the Super Bowl. Fast-forward to this season and the Lions, who were ripped apart by injuries late last year, couldn’t get back to the NFC Championship Game, then lost both coordinators Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson this offseason. The schedule is tough, but the Lions still have loads of talent on the offensive side of the ball. With the bandwagon less full, they may achieve their Super Bowl dream this year.

Chiefs vs Chargers winners and losers: Patrick Mahomes let down by KC | USA Today

Travis Kelce

To be fair, there might have been no better offseason winner than the 10-time Pro Bowl tight end, who got engaged to Taylor Swift a little more than a week before his 13th pro season began. But this shouldn’t be a satisfying output for Kelce in his team’s time of need. A 37-yard touchdown connection helped ignite a comeback bid that was eventually stamped out, but Kelce otherwise only had one catch for 10 yards on the night. On a second-and-goal late in the fourth, he and Mahomes couldn’t get on the same page on a look that could have led to a touchdown, leaving the Chiefs to settle for a field goal. There’s no cause for panic, but Kelce still has a long way to go to prove that the talk of his slimmed-down physique amounts to anything more than a summer trope.

Teair Tart has no regrets about slapping Travis Kelce and sends him a message that will leave Swifties ‘hurt’ | Marca

Officials ultimately penalized Tart with unnecessary roughness, but no ejection followed with mitigating circumstances due to the fact that he chose to use an open palm instead of a closed fist.

The incident quickly spread online, where many Kansas City supporters, and Taylor Swift‘s fan base, demanded harsher punishment as messages directed at Tart flooded social media, though the player refused to step back.

Hours after the Chargers’ 27-21 win, Tart turned the attention back onto Kelce and his critics as he posted on Instagram: “I’m too swift with it even in Brazil… not all hero’s wear capes.”

Teair Tart (the dude who punched Travis Kelce last night) on IG:

“I’m too swift with it even in Brazil” pic.twitter.com/Jy9jA84GFl

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 6, 2025

Chiefs’ emotions boiled over in season-opening loss. Here’s what they said about it | The Athletic

“Emotions are just high,” Tranquill told The Athletic. “We’re all competitive. We all want to win. And so we were just discussing what happened on the play, and emotions were just high.”

Tranquill followed up by saying that he didn’t believe the exchange would have a long-term impact.

“Chris is a great player. I’m not sure what happened. I haven’t seen the tape over there,” Tranquill said. “But we’re teammates, man. We’re brothers. It’s just an emotional moment. We’ve had it before in the past. That’s my guy. We’ll be all right. We’ll get better from it.”

Around the NFL​

Josh Allen, Bills stun Ravens 41-40 in Sunday night thriller | ESPN

Josh Allen led Buffalo to three scores in the final four minutes, the last a 32-yard field goal by Matt Prater as time expired, and the Bills rallied from 15 points down to stun the Baltimore Ravens 41-40 in a season-opening Sunday night thriller.

Buffalo scored 16 points in the last 3:56, with Prater’s kick capping a nine-play, 66-yard drive over the final 1:26.

The Bills became the first team in NFL history to overcome a 15-point deficit in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter to win a season opener. And they became the fourth team since 2000 to win after trailing by 15 or more points in the last four minutes of the fourth quarter.

Aaron Rodgers’ four TDs lead Steelers past Justin Fields, Jets in QB’s return to New York | NFL.com

Glenn and Rodgers are both highly competitive and not short on self-confidence, and perhaps, they were never destined to see eye to eye. But even after Rodgers produced a four-touchdown performance in his first game for the Steelers — a 34-32 victory — after he had been escorted off the field by Mike Tomlin and Cameron Heyward, after the Terrible Towel waving faithful had overwhelmed MetLife Stadium, Rodgers let his pique at Glenn and how his two-year experiment with the Jets had ended show through.

“There are probably people in the organization who didn’t think I could play anymore,” he said, a likely allusion to Glenn. “It was nice to show that I still can.”

And then, when asked if it was especially meaningful to have defeated the man who cut him loose, Rodgers delivered a dagger: “I was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets.”

Colts’ Daniel Jones quiets critics by scoring on every drive of season opener vs. Dolphins | CBS Sports

The Indianapolis Colts will be one of the major storylines to come from NFL Week 1, as they defeated the Miami Dolphins, 33-8. This was the first season opener the Colts have won since 2013, as they went 0-10-1 from 2014-24, snapping the longest active streak in the NFL.

The Colts got impressive play out of their new quarterback, Daniel Jones. He completed 22 of 29 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown, and rushed seven times for 26 yards and two more scores. In fact, Jones put together the best start of his career on Sunday, and one of his best NFL games ever.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs-Chargers: 5 things we learned in Week 1’s loss

2. They are who we thought they were

Take your pick: Jawaan Taylor, Kingsley Suamataia or Chamarri Conner.

I don’t want to continue to harp on how poorly these three continue to play, because it’s just not fair to expect them to be more than they are. At this point, we have enough evidence to know they just don’t have the skills to perform their duties as NFL players.

Taylor and Conner’s shortcomings were especially on display on Friday night. Both were routinely smoked by the competition. I think it’s fair to say that if they had played even 50% better, the Chiefs would have been in a position to win the game.

Social media to make you think​

Mahomes making history in Brazil @PatrickMahomes | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/UbZt6OzNJl

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 6, 2025

Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media​

• Facebook: Like our page
• Instagram: @ArrowheadPride
• X: Follow @ArrowheadPride
• AP Staff on X: See complete list
• Sports Radio 810 on X: Follow @SportsRadio810

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...s-travis-kelce-on-social-media-following-slap

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Andy Reid expects more from his team — and believes he will get it on Sunday

We tend to think of Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid as a kind, grandfatherly figure. In ESPN’s “The Kingdom” series, we learn that Reid has a card displayed in his office that reads, “Don’t judge” — and that he tries to live by that idea when dealing with his young players.

“I’m not judging anybody in here,” he explained to a curious reporter in São Paulo before Friday night’s International Series game against the Los Angeles Chargers, “other than we’re all good folks and we’re shooting for the best for this game tomorrow for both teams; it should be a heck of a football game. But I always try to live by that… yes.”

But after the team’s flat performance led to a 10-0 deficit on Friday night — and ultimately, a rare 27-21 season-opening loss — Reid has been uncharacteristically terse about the team’s performance.

“I expect more than that,” he told reporters in Brazil after the game. “I need to make sure we come out with better emotion. It’s a nice, big stage for us against a good football team. They made a couple of plays early, got things going. And we weren’t able to do that. And I thought [the Chargers] did a better job in that area.”

While Reid did — as he always does — continue to accept the ultimate responsibility for having his players physically and emotionally prepared for game days, it was still possible to read his dissatisfaction between the lines.

“Listen, I’m on the sidelines,” he said on Friday night. “I expect there to be emotional support there. I also expect the players to fly around and do things that I’ve seen us do. Again, it’s my responsibility to get them in that frame of mind to do that, whether you have an injury [or] a turnover, whatever it is. You fight through that and you make yourself better, whatever situation you’re in.”

Reid even did something that was, for him, very unusual: call out position groups.

“I always expect more from ‘the bigs’ on both sides of the ball,” he said of his men in the trenches. “So we can do better in those two areas, for sure. That’s where it all starts, right? So we can do a better job. We will do a better job.”

After more than two full days to reflect upon Friday’s loss, Reid was a bit more of his old self when he did his customary Zoom call with reporters on Monday, as the team began its preparations to host the world champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

“There were some good things mixed in there,” he said of Friday’s loss, “but there are some things we’ve got to fix. I think the players are aware of that — and the coaches are aware of it. So we’ll get busy on that. We’ve got a good Eagles team coming in here.”

Still, he spoke like a man who had just spent a couple of days giving directions to people like defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo — and expected those instructions to be followed.

“Listen, there are things that we’ve got to work on,” he noted. “Spags has a great grasp of it — and the players know. We’ve got to fix few things.”

And the head coach believes that his messages have been heard.

“I think the guys will be fired up to play against a real good football team at home,” he declared. “I wouldn’t expect anything less than that.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...expects-more-from-team-blieves-he-will-get-it

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Vikings-Bears Monday Night Football discussion

The NFL’s Week 1 concludes with the Chicago Bears hosting the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC North matchup on “Monday Night Football.”

Let’s talk about it!

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...bears-week-1-monday-night-football-discussion

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Is it Jaylon Moore time? Take the ‘Reacts’ fan survey

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Chiefs fans — and fans across the country.

Sign up here to answer weekly national NFL questions via email — or answer this week’s Chiefs poll right here.

Later in the week, we’ll bring you all the results of this week’s polls. Click here to see recent results.

And be sure to check out FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/nfl-...hiefs-fan-poll-week-2-is-it-jaylon-moore-time

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Patrick Mahomes putting on his ‘superhero cape’ won’t be enough

The latest​

Week 2 waiver targets: Catch these wide receivers before they’re gone | Yardbarker

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown could get top billing

Brown took advantage of an injury to teammate Xavier Worthy by leading the Kansas City Chiefs with 10 catches for 99 yards in the team’s’ six-point loss to the L.A. Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Friday night, finishing with 19.90 fantasy points.

Already down a receiver with Rashee Rice suspended for the first six games of the season for his involvement in a high-speed, multi-vehicle crash in March, Worthy’s dislocated shoulder is bad news for Kansas City but great news for Brown owners.

Worthy hopes to keep playing while wearing a brace, but Brown could emerge as the team’s No. 1 receiver until Rice returns.

Who calls plays for every NFL team in 2025? What to know | ESPN

Playcaller: Andy Reid, head coach

Experience: Reid has the most experience in the league. He has been calling plays throughout his 27 seasons as a head coach — 14 with the Eagles and 13 with the Chiefs. He is assisted by offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and eight-year starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

What to know: Much of Reid’s playcalling will be determined by the success or struggles of the Chiefs’ revamped offensive line, featuring new left guard Kingsley Suamataia and rookie left tackle Josh Simmons. If Mahomes is better protected, expect Reid to dial up more deep shots and counterattacks through a variety of screens. When compared to last season, the Chiefs hope to stay healthier on offense. In Week 7, Reid and Mahomes could have their top three receivers — Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown — finally play a snap together for the first time in two years. — Nate Taylor

NFL Week 2 picks and score predictions: Packers top Commanders, Chiefs lose Super Bowl rematch | CBS Sports

Also, Mahomes almost never loses in the month of September. I’m not sure if it’s because he has a September birthday, but since he took over the Chiefs starting QB job in 2018, Mahomes is 19-4 in the month of September and in those 23 games, he’s thrown 63 TD passes compared to just 11 interceptions.

You should never pick against Mahomes after a loss, you should never pick against him in September and you should certainly never pick against him after a September loss, but I’m going to do it. In Super Bowl LIX, I predicted that the Eagles would win by double digits and although I think it will be closer this time around, I think Philly still wins.

PICK: Eagles 23-20 over Chiefs | Eagles -1 | Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

The Ringer’s 2025 NFL Power Rankings | The Ringer

5. Chiefs

After the Chiefs seemingly found an answer to their offensive line problems with first-round pick Josh Simmons, there was hope that this offense would rediscover its deep passing game. One series into the season, though, receiver Xavier Worthy went down with a dislocated shoulder. The receiving corps subsequently struggled to get downfield separation without him, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes had to put his superhero cape back on just to keep the offense afloat. While that formula was enough to get Kansas City off to a 9-0 start last season, it’s no way to consistently play, and losing close games like Friday’s will make skeptical voices even louder.

Five Quick Facts Following the Chiefs Week 1 Loss to Los Angeles | Upon Further Review | The Mothership

3. The Chiefs’ brilliant, “run-on” field goal shouldn’t be forgotten.

It didn’t end up leading to a victory, but the Chiefs’ successful “run-on” field goal at the end of the first half was executed so well that it shouldn’t be forgotten. Simply put, consider the ridiculous complexity involved in moving the correct personnel onto the field and into position all amidst a ticking clock that had only 13 seconds remaining on it when tight end Noah Gray re-entered the field of play.

For starters, Gray knew exactly which official he needed to give the ball to in order to expediate the spotting process. Meanwhile, a total of 12 players needed to exchange spots without a moment’s notice. The only players who remained on the field as part of the field goal unit were Gray, center Creed Humphrey, offensive guard Trey Smith, offensive guard Kingsley Suamataia and offensive tackle Josh Simmons, meaning six players needed to rush off the field while another six ran on it.

That process was executed in just 10 seconds before longsnapper James Winchester snapped the ball at the 3-second mark, providing kicker Harrison Butker with plenty of time to send the ball through the uprights from 59 yards away.

Again, the Chiefs lost on Friday, so these special teams’ heroics are easily forgotten, but the success of that operation should be a comforting thought if Kansas City needs to do it again down the road.

Around the NFL​

Tyreek Hill accused of domestic violence by estranged wife | ESPN

Tyreek Hill‘s estranged wife has alleged in court filings that he committed domestic violence, which the Miami Dolphins receiver has vehemently denied.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, Keeta Vaccaro alleges eight separate incidents of domestic violence in filings related to the couple’s divorce case.

Hill’s attorney said in a statement Monday that the allegations are part of a “shakedown,” adding that they are “an attempt to generate bad media coverage” for Hill.

According to TMZ, Vaccaro alleges that the first incident occurred in January 2024, about two months after her marriage to Hill.

Hill has not been criminally charged, and it was unclear as of Tuesday morning whether law enforcement was investigating Vaccaro’s allegations.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs Injuries: Analyzing wideout Xavier Worthy’s shoulder dislocation

In a traumatic shoulder dislocation, a labrum tear is likely to be the first injury the medical staff would want to rule out through an MRI. Given the mechanism of Worthy’s injury — the anterior-to-posterior force to the front of his shoulder from the collision with Kelce — a posterior labral tear would be most likely. This is called a SLAP tear (for superior labrum anterior to posterior). Labrum tears can lead to popping, grinding, decreased range of motion, pain and instability of the shoulder joint.

Other injuries would also be possible, including bony fractures or muscle strains and tears. But even if no other structures are damaged, additional dislocations can occur after the joint’s stability has been compromised.

Given what we know, it is likely Worthy will return to play this season. This does not suggest the absence of other structural damage. Instead, it simply means Worthy will be able to play through the injury — whether it is only a dislocation or something more.

Worthy’s return to play will vary depending on the extent of the injury. It’s fair to assume he will miss at least 3-4 weeks. If the dislocation is more severe — or there are structural injuries — he could be out 6-8 weeks.

Social media to make you think​

Coach Toub had the guys MOVING! pic.twitter.com/75ZUHWZyYU

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 9, 2025

Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media​

• Facebook: Like our page
• Instagram: @ArrowheadPride
• X: Follow @ArrowheadPride
• AP Staff on X: See complete list
• Sports Radio 810 on X: Follow @SportsRadio810

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-putting-on-his-superhero-cape-wont-be-enough

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Eagles Wednesday injury report: 2 players out, 2 more limited

Each practice day of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs release an official injury report leading up to the next game. This Sunday, Kansas City hosts the Philadelphia Eagles for a Week 2 matchup on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium at 3:25 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

Here is the Chiefs’ first official injury report of the week:

Chiefs​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Jalen Royals	WR	Knee	DNP	–	–	–
Xavier Worthy	WR	Shoulder	DNP	–	–	–
Trey Smith	G	Knee/Illness	LP	–	–	–
Drue Tranquill	LB	Knee	LP	–	–	–
Marquise Brown	WR	Ankle	FP	–	–	–
Jawaan Taylor	OT	Knee/Ankle	FP	–	–	–
Omarr Norman-Lott	DT	Ankle	FP	–	–	–
Ashton Gillotte	DE	Elbow	FP	–	–	–
Nick Bolton	LB	Biceps	FP	–	–	–
Chamarri Conner	DB	Wrist	FP	–	–	–

Eagles​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Tanner McKee	QB	Right Thumb	DNP	–	–	–
Will Shipley	RB	Oblique	DNP	–	–	–
Dallas Goedert	TE	Knee	DNP	–	–	–
Landon Dickerson	G	Back	LP	–	–	–
Jalyx Hunt	OLB	Hip	LP	–	–	–

Some notes​

• Just as before Week 1’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City begins the week with rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals held out of practice as he continues to deal with tendonitis in his knee. On Wednesday, head coach Andy Reid said that Royals would “probably not” be back for Sunday’s game, calling it “a stretch” to think he could play so soon.
• Second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy left the Chargers game with a dislocated shoulder. He did not participate in Wednesday’s practice. So far, we have not been given an official timeline for his return — but on Wednesday, we got two encouraging pieces of news: no surgery is planned and the team does not intend to place him on the Reserve/Injured list. Our best guess is that he could return to play in as little as 3-4 weeks.
• Reid said on Wednesday that both players are on the right track. “Both are doing better,” he told reporters. “They’re working on it and making progress. But they’re not ready to go today, for sure.”
• There are two surprises on the Chiefs’ report: right guard Trey Smith (illness/knee) and linebacker Drue Tranquill (knee) were both limited in Wednesday’s practice. At this time, we have no additional information about either injury.
• The biggest name on the Eagles’ injury report is tight end Dallas Goedert, who caught seven catches for 44 yards in Philadelphia’s Week 1 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. He did not participate on Wednesday because of a knee sprain, and there is a good chance he will not play on Sunday.
• Like Worthy, Philadelphia running back Will Shipley (oblique) left the Eagles’ Week 1 game after only a few snaps. He and backup quarterback Tanner McKee (thumb) did not participate on Wednesday.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans.../chiefs-eagles-week-2-wednesday-injury-report

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

The Chiefs remind us that football is passionate — and brothers sometimes fight

In sports, momentum is a hard thing to quantify. When you have it, you feel unstoppable. But when it’s gone, you feel like Sisyphus rolling the ball up the hill. Momentum gives energy, but can also take it away. It notoriously saps the strength of one team, only to give it to another.

We know that football is a game of inches. But football is also a game that is sometimes dictated by momentum — and that’s tricky, because it’s a mistress that refuses to suffer a team that comes out flat.

That’s what happened to the Kansas City Chiefs in last Friday’s season-opening 27-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. By the time Kansas City had found its footing, the team was already behind the metaphorical boulder, fighting an uphill battle.

“I think there were a couple of plays [where] we got negative plays on defense,” Chiefs MIKE linebacker Nick Bolton told reporters on Wednesday, “and I didn’t think our energy — and our excitement — was where it needed to be.”

When things are like that, there’s only one thing that can break the spell.

“[If] we make good plays — make splash plays — make the crowd [excited and] make adjustments,” noted Bolton, “like, everybody gets involved. [You have to] love on your teammates, man. [Then you have] 11 guys celebrating for you.”

Wide receiver Hollywood Brown said that in Friday’s game, his teammates weren’t “ready to throw the first punch.”

“They were just more excited than us,” he admitted to reporters. “They came to bring it.”

But to the Chiefs’ credit, they never quit — and by the end, had made it a game. Still, there were moments where frustration boiled over. At one point, tight end Travis Kelce was yelling at right tackle Jawaan Taylor after he had drawn multiple penalties. Linebacker Drue Tranquill gave defensive tackle Chris Jones a piece of his mind after Jones opted for an inside pass-rushing move that broke outside containment — and Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert took advantage by scrambling for a game-sealing first down.

But that kind of thing doesn’t really trouble Kansas City head coach Andy Reid.

“As [the players] pull for each other, they get after each other,” he asserted to reporters on Wednesday. “I mean, that’s all part of it. When guys do good, they jump around and tell them how good they did. It’s all part of it. [There’s a] time and a place for everything.”

“It’s football,” maintained quarterback Patrick Mahomes during his turn at the podium. “It’s passionate. We love the game. I’d rather have guys that are passionate about it — and want to win — than the other way around. We hold each other accountable.”

Mahomes insisted that Chiefs players can do this without hurting each other’s feelings or sowing division in the locker room.

“There’s no ill will anywhere,” he said. “It’s just a bunch of guys that want to win — and want to do whatever they can to win. And so, whenever that happens, sometimes passionate moments, outbursts and stuff happen. But at the end of the day, we love each other — and we’re going to push each other to be even better.”

Bolton compared it to siblings fighting.

“We’re still brothers and family,” he declared, “just like a moment when you and your brother kind of argue, but you still love each other.”

We’ve all been there. I’m one of four brothers. I’ve been in more fights with them than I can count. But there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them.

So it is with the Chiefs, whose next tussle will be with the world champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

“This week, we’re gonna come to bring it,” promised Brown.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-us-football-is-passionate-and-brothers-fight

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Eagles Thursday injury report: 3 players upgraded

Each practice day of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs release an official injury report leading up to the next game. This Sunday, Kansas City hosts the Philadelphia Eagles for a Week 2 matchup on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium at 3:25 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

Here is the Chiefs’ second official injury report of the week:

Chiefs​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Jalen Royals	WR	Knee	DNP	DNP	–	–
Xavier Worthy	WR	Shoulder	DNP	LP	–	–
Hollywood Brown	WR	Ankle	FP	FP	–	–
Trey Smith	G	Knee/Illness	LP	FP	–	–
Jawaan Taylor	T	Knee/Ankle	FP	FP	–	–
Ashton Gillotte	DL	Elbow	FP	FP	–	–
Omarr NormanLott	DL	Ankle	FP	FP	–	–
Drue Tranquill	LB	Knee	LP	FP	–	–
Nick Bolton	LB	Biceps	FP	FP	–	–
Chamarri Conner	DB	Wrist	FP	FP	–	–

Eagles​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Tanner McKee	QB	Right Thumb	DNP	DNP	–	–
Will Shipley	RB	Oblique	DNP	DNP	–	–
Dallas Goedert	TE	Knee	DNP	DNP	–	–
Cameron Williams	T	Shoulder	–	LP	–	–
Landon Dickerson	G	Back	LP	FP	–	–
Jalyx Hunt	OLB	Hip	LP	FP	–	–

Some notes​

• Thursday’s big news is that second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy was upgraded from did not participate to limited. The Athletic’s Jesse Newell caught a picture of the wideout on the practice field. Worthy left Week 1’s Chargers game with a dislocated shoulder. While the team hasn’t provided an official timeline for his return to play, our best guess is that he could miss few as 3-4 weeks.
• Just as on Wednesday, rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals was held out of practice as he continues to deal with tendonitis in his knee. On Wednesday, head coach Andy Reid said that Royals would “probably not” be back for Sunday’s game, calling it “a stretch” to think he could play so soon.
• Meanwhile, guard Trey Smith (knee/illness) and linebacker Drue Tranquill were both upgraded from limited to full participation in Wednesday’s practice.
• The biggest name on the Eagles’ injury report is tight end Dallas Goedert, who did not participate on either Wednesday or Thursday because of a knee sprain. There is a good chance he will not play on Sunday.
• Like Worthy, Philadelphia running back Will Shipley (oblique) left the Eagles’ Week 1 game after only a few snaps. He and backup quarterback Tanner McKee (thumb) did not participate on Wednesday, but were both upgraded to limited participation on Thursday. Tackle Cameron Williams (shoulder) was added to Thursday’s report as a limited participant.

For the Wednesday injury report, click here.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...les-thursday-injury-report-3-players-upgraded

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Eagles 5 questions with the enemy: 4 offensive coordinators in 4 seasons?

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs host the Philadelphia Eagles. We welcome site manager Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation — our sister SB Nation site covering the Eagles — for Five Questions with the Enemy.

---

1. Is it worrisome that the Eagles are now on their fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons?​

I don’t think it’s ideal but offensive coordinator stability is the exception and not the norm in today’s NFL. The longest-tenured offensive coordinators in the NFL were hired in 2022. Three of those four don’t call plays and the one who does (Mike Kafka) has gone on and off as a play-caller.

If a team has a good OC, they typically get hired to be a head coach elsewhere. If a team has a bad OC, they typically don’t have a very long leash (see: the Eagles firing Brian Johnson after 2023).

Given this reality, having a play-calling head coach seems ideal. But that’s obviously not the setup in Philly. Nick Sirianni called plays for several games in 2021 before relinquishing that duty to Shane Steichen, who was hired away by the Colts after the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. Kellen Moore was hired away by the Saints after the Eagles’ Super Bowl win over the Chiefs.

Current OC Kevin Patullo could very well be in line for a head coaching job if the Eagles are really successful again this season. If not, he could meet a similar fate to Brian Johnson. Patullo showed some promise early in Week 1 before the Eagles’ offense went cold in the second half.

To this point in time, it’s hard to argue the OC changes have been a major hindrance to Eagles success. Sirianni is ultimately 49-20 in the regular season (fifth-best winning percentage of any NFL head coach ever) and 6-3 in the playoffs with two Super Bowl appearances since he was hired in 2021.

Stability would be nice. But I don’t think it’s ever really going to happen unless the Eagles can find the offensive version of Vic Fangio.

2. What did you like best about Philadelphia’s performance in the season opener against Dallas?​

Jalen Hurts’ Week 1 performance was pretty encouraging. If you take away three throwaways and one drop, he was 19/19 as a passer. He consistently made good decisions as both a passer and a runner. With the Cowboys playing a soft zone, he remained patient and took what the defense was giving them. When it was time to unleash a deep shot to Jahan Dotson, his throw was right on the money. I’m feeling good about Hurts entering Week 2 — especially since he didn’t even need to rely on A.J. Brown, who only had one target (on Hurts’ final passing atttempt) to have a good game. Brown will undoubtedly be more involved moving forward.

That the Eagles won in Week 1 — despite not needing big contributions from two of their very best players (Brown and Jalen Carter) — seems like a positive to me.

3. Like the Chiefs, the Eagles didn’t get much production from their offensive line in Week 1. What’s the problem?​

To me, the problem was less about the offensive line (although Landon Dickerson being banged up isn’t ideal) and more about the offensive design.

Against the Cowboys, Saquon Barkley faced stacked boxes at the highest rate (66.7%) in a game since 2019. And it’s not just like Dallas decided to stack the box regardless of what the Eagles intended to do on offense. The Cowboys were able to do that with such a high frequency since the Eagles oddly insisted on utilizing heavy packages (12 and 13 personnel) over and over. And the results weren’t very good with Barkley limited to just 60 yards on 18 carries (3.3 average).

The Eagles need to spread out the Chiefs’ defense and run out of 11 personnel more often. No reason for them not to when Dotson, who had a good offseason, looks like a capable third wide receiver. Not to mention that Dallas Goedert is now banged up — and his backup, Grant Calcaterra, just isn’t a good blocking tight end.

Again, I will be more concerned about the OL if Dickerson can’t play or has to leave the game early again like he did in Week 1. Backup left guard Brett Toth is largely untested.

4. Who is the Philadelphia rookie that the team’s fans are most excited about?​

Easily Jihaad Campbell.

I can’t stop thinking about this rep where the 21-year-old dropped into coverage to break up a pass nearly 30 yards down the field:

7) One of the more interesting developments from this week was Fangio's willingness to run some Tampa-2! This coverage only works if you have a freak at LB. The Eagles have 2 freaks at LB. Jihaad Campbell was outstanding in coverage in this one, and his movement skills are… pic.twitter.com/Vw6NH3JlBN

— Jonny Page (@JonnyPage9) September 6, 2025

Though he’s primarily playing as an off-ball linebacker, this is someone the Eagles will also line up on the edge to rush the passer. He has some real intriguing potential as a blitzer, which was seen during training camp and preseason games.

Pairing Campbell with Zack Baun, who received Defensive Player of the Year votes for his excellent 2024 season, is pretty exciting. For years, the Eagles were desperate to have a single linebacker who was at least solid. Now they might have the best off-ball linebacker duo in the NFL — and quality depth behind their starters as well.

The Eagles’ defense could be really good when it comes to defending passes over the middle of the field.

5. How do you see the Super Bowl LIX rematch playing out?​

I’d be a fool to bet against Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead, right? The Chiefs can’t possibly go 0-2 for the first time in his career. And Andy Reid’s first time since 2014?

Well, call me a fool, then. I’m taking the Birds. I’m sure the Chiefs (and that Kansas City crowd) will be up for this game after what happened the last time these two teams met. But motivation alone doesn’t fix the very real problems that the Chiefs have going on right now.

The Chiefs being so thin at wide receiver right now is a bit of a relief for an Eagles secondary that has an obvious weakness at CB2. The Eagles’ pass rush logged zero sacks and just one quarterback hit in Week 1, but that was without Carter playing; his return figures to make a big difference for this Philly pass rush. Adding Za’Darius Smith to the edge rush rotation could also help.

The Chiefs’ defense looks vulnerable and Steve Spagnuolo has struggled to stop Hurts in the past.

There’s no way the Chiefs go down easy in this spot. But I like the Eagles to edge them out 23-20 with a game-winning Jake Elliott field goal.

Be sure to check out the answers I gave to their questions by clicking here.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...in-week-1-4-offensive-coorcinators-in-4-years

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Eagles Final injury report: Xavier Worthy continues to amaze us

Each practice day of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs release an official injury report leading up to the next game. This Sunday, Kansas City hosts the Philadelphia Eagles for a Week 2 matchup on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium at 3:25 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

Here is the Chiefs’ final official injury report of the week, including game designations:

Chiefs​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Jalen Royals	WR	Knee	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Xavier Worthy	WR	Shoulder	DNP	LP	LP	DOUBT
Hollywood Brown	WR	Ankle	FP	FP	FP	–
Trey Smith	G	Knee – Illness	LP	FP	FP	–
Jawaan Taylor	T	Knee – Ankle	FP	FP	FP	–
Ashton Gillotte	DL	Elbow	FP	FP	FP	–
Omarr Norman-Lott	DL	Ankle	FP	FP	FP	–
Drue Tranquill	LB	Knee	LP	FP	FP	–
Nick Bolton	LB	Biceps	FP	FP	FP	–
Chamarri Conner	DB	Wrist	FP	FP	FP	–

Eagles​

• Check back soon for the Eagles’ official injury report.

Some notes​

• Wide receiver Xavier Worthy continues to surprise us. On Thursday, we were surprised to see him back at practice after he left Week 1’s Chargers game with a dislocated shoulder. After Friday’s session, head coach Andy Reid said Worthy had done some work with the team in practice — and when pressed said there was a “slim chance he might play against the Eagles. But officially, he is listed as a limited participant in Friday’s practice — and has been declared doubtful for the game.
• These days, doubtful is rarely used in injury reports. Officially, it means there is less than a 50% chance the player will be available. Questionable means there is a 50% chance a player will play, while out means there is no chance. There was once a probable classification that indicated a greater than 50% chance a player would be active, but the league has discontinued its use.
• Rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals was once again held out of practice as he continues to deal with tendonitis in his knee. On Wednesday, Reid said that it would be “a stretch” for Royals to play. Reid was right. Royals has now been declared out for Sunday.
• Guard Trey Smith (knee/illness) and linebacker Drue Tranquill (knee) were both upgraded from limited to full participation on Thursday — and continued to be reported that way on Friday. They (and the rest of the players listed on this week’s report) are good to go for Sunday’s matchup.

For the Thursday injury report, click here.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...njury-report-xavier-worthy-continues-recovery

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs elevate CB Kevin Knowles from the practice squad for Week 2

According to Saturday’s NFL transactions report, the Kansas City Chiefs have elevated cornerback Kevin Knowles from their practice squad for Sunday’s contest against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Knowles joined the Chiefs in April as an undrafted free agent out of Florida State. He played in all three of Kansas City’s preseason games. Presumably, any action Knowles sees on Sunday would come on special teams. You may remember that he blocked an extra point attempt by former Kansas City placekicker Cairo Santos late in the team’s third exhibition contest against the Chicago Bears.

Although he was waived at the roster cut deadline last month, Knowles signed with Kansas City’s practice squad the next day. He will revert to the practice squad following the game, and he can be elevated two more times without officially joining the active roster.

On Friday, we learned that the Chiefs waived pass rusher B.J. Thompson from the team’s Reserve/NFI (non-football-illness) list with a settlement.

Thompson was Kansas City’s fifth-round selection in the 2023 draft. As a rookie, he suited up for the regular season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers as the Chiefs rested most of their starters.

Heading into his second season in 2024, however, Thompson suffered a cardiac arrest at the team facility during a meeting before an offseason practice. He spent four days in the hospital.

Thompson spent the 2024 season on the NFI list. The Chiefs waived him in May as undrafted free agents were added, but he reverted to NFI after going unclaimed.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...wles-elevated-for-week-2-bj-thompson-released

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Eagles LIVE updates: Eagles lead 7-3 in the second quarter

Seven months ago, the Kansas City Chiefs recorded an embarrassing 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024’s NFL Championship, ending the team’s bid for an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl victory. Since then, many have given the Chiefs up for dead — and the team’s 27-21 season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil did nothing to push back on that narrative. So before a nationwide television audience during Sunday afternoon’s late slate, there is a lot at stake as Kansas City hosts Philadelphia on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, hoping to avoid the Chiefs’ first 0-2 start since 2014.

First quarter​

The Eagles would start at their own 31 after wideout John Metchie III returned Harrison Butker’s kickoff from in front of the end zone. George Karlaftis brought Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts down in the backfield on first down, causing a fumble. The Eagles landed on the ball and lost three yards. The Chiefs then wasted a chance to get the Eagles off the field early with an offsides penalty on Chris Jones paired with a seven-yard pass to wide receiver AJ Brown on third-and-8. The Eagles converted on the patented “tush push,” though the first down was actually given by penalty. The next set of downs would be more productive for the Chiefs defense. Star running back Saquan Barkley lost a yard on first down, and the Eagles would only advance six yards to midfield on the next two plays. Punter Braden Mann’s kick went out of bounds at the Kansas City nine-yard line, where Patrick Mahomes and company would take over.

The Chiefs would go three-and-out after a promising seven-yard run from Isiah Pacheco on first down. Punting from his own 16-yard line, Matt Araiza boomed the kick to the Eagles 22-yard line, where wide receiver Jahan Dotson called for a fair catch.

The Chiefs quickly again got the Eagles into a third-and-long after Hurts was incomplete on first down and Barkley lost a yard on a second down reception. On third down, Hurts was incomplete to Brown. Mann’s punt went to Nikko Remigio at the 17-yard line. He returned it 18 yards to start the Chiefs offense at their own 35-yard line.

Mahomes scrambled for 11 yards on the drive’s first play. The Chiefs would advance to the Philadelphia 37-yard line over the next five plays. Unfortunately, a false start penalty on Kareem Hunt pushed the Chiefs back outside the 40-yard line. Hunt only gained three of the yards back on third-and-16. Butker came on for a 57-yard field goal, but the attempt sailed to the right and was no good. The Eagles took over at their own 48-yard line.

The Eagles moved the chains to the Chiefs 42 on the next three plays. On the next set of downs, the Eagles executed perfect blocking on a screen to Devonte Smith to the 24-yard line. After backup running back AJ Dillon gained 11 yards on the next two carriers, Barkley finished the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run. Jake Elliot’s extra point opened the scoring at Eagles 7, Chiefs 0.

Running back Brashard Smith returned the kickoff to the Chiefs’ 32-yard line. Pacheco gained two yards on first down, and the first quarter expired.

Second quarter​

Mahomes opened the second frame with a pass to Kelce near midfield. Two plays later, Mahomes took advantage of ample open space to scramble inside the Philadelphia 30-yard line. The drive would stall after two unproductive runs, and Mahomes took a third-down sack at the 38-yard line. Butker was good a yard closer than his earlier missed kick, and his 56-yarder trimmed the deficit to Eagles 7, Chiefs 3.

Metchie advanced to the 24-yard line on the kickoff return. Aided by two Philadelpha penalties, the Chiefs defense managed a three-and-out. Remigio fielded a 67-yard punt inside the Kansas City 10-yard line, but a 25-yard return would start Kansas City at their own 31.

Injuries​

Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna left the game in the first quarter. He was announced as questionable to return with a hip injury.

Cornerback Kristian Fulton was seen getting his ankle taped in the first quarter, but his status was announced as doubtful to return to the game.

Left tackle Josh Simmons was seen getting attention on the sideline early in the second quarter while Kansas City’s offense was on the field.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...hiefs-eagles-week-2-live-updates-september-14

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

5 things we learned from the Chiefs losing their Super Bowl rematch to the Eagles

This isn’t the way we wanted to start the season, but here we are.

In Sunday’s matchup, nothing came easy for either team. The Kansas City Chiefs’ offense once again came out slow, struggling to move the ball. The difference was that the Philadelphia Eagles also struggled offensively. So it became a tightly-contested game in which a costly red-zone turnover made the difference, as the Chiefs lost their home opener 20-17.

Here are five things we learned.

1. The Chiefs can’t run the ball​

We are two games into the season. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is not just the Chiefs’ leading rusher. His 123 rushing yards are more than everyone else combined.

Considering that Mahomes never has a designed run called, that’s a problem.

We knew this coming into 2025, but everyone in the organization continued to just sip their coffee.

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It’s time to stop acting like Isiah Pacheco will develop into a reliable every-down NFL back. Being a great locker- room guy who runs hard doesn’t make you a good lead back.

Running hard and running with power are not the same thing — and Pacheco’s poor vision prevents him from reading blocks correctly. This wastes any big-play ability his speed gives him.

Kareem Hunt is on the other end of the spectrum. While he sees the game very well, his body will no longer let him do it.

But while these personnel deficits are an issue, it’s not Kansas City’s only problem in the running game. Head coach Andy Reid’s play-calling isn’t doing the team any favors, either.

The Chiefs’ failed fourth-down call in the second half’s first drive was doomed from the start. Kansas City came out in a big formation, doing little to hide that Hunt was going to run up the gut. This team simply isn’t good enough on the ground to impose its will.

2. The Chiefs’ margin for error has eroded​

Kansas City had the talent to win Sunday’s game. It did not, however, have the talent to make so many mistakes and still win.

One of the secrets to the Chiefs’ recent success has been that opponents had to play them perfectly. Kansas City was good enough to overcome mistakes that would be back-breaking to other teams.

But now, the script has flipped. In order to win, the Chiefs must play mistake-free football.

They can’t afford to turn the ball over in the red zone, because there is no guarantee they’ll be able to put together another long drive. When down two scores in the fourth quarter, Mahomes can’t afford to miss wide receiver Tyquan Thornton when he’s wide open (I mean, wide open) deep in the secondary. Even if they connect a few plays later for a touchdown, the minute they lost is almost as important as the points they scored.

3. The sky isn’t falling​

Reinforcements are on the way.

The Chiefs lost to the defending Super Bowl champions by three points — without three of their four best receivers, including their top two receiving targets: Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. Much like last season, injuries and off-field issues have prevented us from seeing what Kansas City can be this year.

If Rice and Worthy had played in this game, the Chiefs would have won hands down. But we don’t live in a world of what-ifs. You don’t get to write off games where your best players are unavailable. If the next man up can’t do the job, everyone shares the failure.

We can, however, say that when these two players return, so will some of Kansas City’s margin for error.

4. The defense is figuring it out — and will be OK​

Aside from safety Chamarri Conner, who single-handedly torpedoed the Chiefs’ defense with poor angles and reaction time on Philadelphia’s first scoring drive, the rest of the unit played pretty well against a good Eagles offense.

While he didn’t have a flashy stat line, defensive tackle Chris Jones consistently made his presence felt in the trenches. Linebacker Drue Tranquill continues to play well at the second level. And even though the pass rush still struggled to get home, the secondary held up in coverage.

Issues remain. But the Kansas City defense is still good enough to be good enough.

5. This team doesn’t have the same luck we’ve seen before​

It’s easy to say the Chiefs lost because Kelce’s drop led to an interception in the end zone. Or that the refs missed a couple of calls on tush pushes — or even that the tush push itself should be illegal.

But that’s the mentality of a losing team. Referees are going to miss calls. Even Hall of Fame tight ends are going to make mistakes.

Whoever you are, there will always be some days the ball doesn’t bounce your way. But that doesn’t matter. You still have to find a way to win the game.

Two games in, it feels like this team lacks the same magic (and luck) it’s had in previous seasons — and while it’s still early, it’s not that early.

It’s gut-check time. The Chiefs have to look in the mirror and make a decision: how do they want this season to go?

Bad luck is out of their control. Bad football is not.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans.../chiefs-eagles-5-things-we-learned-nfl-week-2