Jan 5, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid walks the sidelines in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Kansas City Chiefs’ chase for a third consecutive Super Bowl championship truly begins this Saturday in the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans. Several key Chiefs starters haven’t seen a snap since Week 17. Sitting key starters in Week 18 was meant to provide rest and recovery so they could be as healthy as possible for the playoffs.
That strategy seems to have paid off for Kansas City. According to Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride, head coach Andy Reid said on Thursday, ” There are really no injuries to announce.”
“There’s really no injuries to announce [Thursday],” says head coach Andy Reid.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) January 16, 2025
Chiefs news: Kansas City is Fully Healthy Entering Playoffs
Reid confirming that there are no new injuries to worry about entering the Texans game is a relief. Throughout this season, it felt like a new player was popping up on the injury report daily. While that’s never a trend fans or players want to see, at least it happened in what many consider an unimportant time of year for the Chiefs.
Even though Kansas City isn’t dealing with any new injuries, the team still has to decide what to do with two players eligible to return from injured reserve. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman and cornerback Jaylen Watson are both able to return this week, but the Chiefs currently have one roster spot available.
Watson’s return would certainly boost the defensive backfield. That said, Houston’s receiving corps is heavily depleted, so allowing Watson one more week to rest might be the smart move.
On the other hand, if Hardman did return, he wouldn’t be on the field as much as Watson. Is activating a guy who will see the field mostly on kickoffs and a handful of offensive snaps the best idea in the playoffs? Only Reid has the answer to that question.
Nevertheless, not having to worry about new injuries puts Chiefs fan’s minds at ease.
