HEADLINES

Rashad Fenton

Chiefs Place WR Tyreek Hill On COVID-19 List

December 21st, 2021 at 2:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs are placing wide receiver Tyreek Hill, cornerback Rashad Fenton, and tight Blake Bell on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, according to Adam Teicher and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The team is expecting to add more players to the list and, as one source tells the duo, “It’s a mess.” 

[RELATED: Chiefs Place Kelce On Reserve/COVID-19 List]

The Chiefs have, for all intents and purposes, punched their ticket to the playoffs as well as the AFC West crown. Still, they’re pushing to lock up a first-round bye over the next few weeks. They currently lead the AFC with a 10-4 record but the Patriots (9-5) aren’t far behind.

Fortunately, the Chiefs have a ways to go between now and Sunday afternoon’s tilt against the Steelers. Any players who are vaccinated, asymptomatic, and able to pass another test will be able to play. They’ll be keeping their fingers crossed for Travis Kelce, Hill, and any other positives that emerge this week.

Hill, 27, is in the midst of another outstanding season with 102 catches for 1,178 yards and nine touchdowns through 14 games. Just last week, he torched the Chargers for a 12/148/1 line, so the Steelers could stand to benefit from his absence. They, too, are still playing for something at 7-6-1 — Five Thirty Eight gives them an 18% chance of making the playoffs with a 10% chance of taking the sardine-packed AFC North.

Chiefs CB Bashaud Breeland Clears Concussion Protocol

January 23rd, 2021 at 11:45am CST by Ben Levine

When the Chiefs take the field tomorrow for the AFC Championship Game, they’ll be joined by Bashaud Breeland. The team announced today (via Twitter) that the cornerback has cleared concussion protocol and “will no longer have a game status designation” heading into tomorrow’s contest.

This is obviously great news for the Chiefs, their fans, and (as ESPN’s Field Yates points out on Twitter) Breeland’s wallet. If the cornerback plays more than 50-percent of his team’s snaps tomorrow and the Chiefs win, Breeland will earn a $300K incentive.

Breeland was previously listed as questionable with a shoulder injury and a concussion, with the latter ailment presumably popping up during last week’s win over the Browns. Breeland finished the game with six tackles and one pass defended, but he only appeared in 86 percent of his team’s defensive snaps, his lowest total since Week 1.

Following a 2019 campaign that saw him start 15 games en route to a Super Bowl ring, Breeland started all 11 of his games in 2020. The 28-year-old ultimately finished the season having compiled 38 tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.

The Chiefs are still dealing with injuries elsewhere on their cornerbacks depth chart. Rashad Fenton is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game with ankle and foot injuries.

AFC West Notes: Chiefs, Sutton, Raiders

September 10th, 2020 at 6:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Clyde Edwards-Helaire will make his NFL debut Thursday night, doing so without the benefit of preseason carries. The Chiefs brought back both Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson to serve as his backups, but the defending Super Bowl champions considered a somewhat higher-profile RB2 option. A year after the Chiefs scooped up LeSean McCoy following his Bills release, they had interest in Adrian Peterson, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Peterson, who played under Eric Bieniemy from 2007-10 when the current Chiefs OC was the Vikings’ running backs coach, was interested in a Chiefs deal as well, per Herbie Teope of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). COVID-19 testing and the team’s first game being on Thursday night nixed a potential partnership, Fowler adds. Peterson signed with the Lions on Sunday.

Ahead of the Chiefs kicking off the 2020 season in less than an hour, here is the latest from the AFC West:

  • The Broncos have already lost their best defensive player for the season, in all likelihood, with Von Miller opting to undergo an ankle surgery that will require a months-long recovery process. They now have their top offensive talent dealing with an injury. Courtland Sutton went down during practice Thursday, suffering what an MRI determined to be an AC joint sprain, Mike Klis of 9News notes. While Sutton will be classified as day-to-day, the third-year wideout’s right shoulder malady has his status in doubt for the Broncos’ Monday-night opener against the Titans.
  • The Chiefs made a few mid-level moves to bolster their depth chart this year, from re-signing wideout Demarcus Robinson and backup quarterback Chad Henne to adding offensive linemen Kelechi Osemele, Daniel Kilgore and Mike Remmers. Kansas City, however, does enter the season with a thin cornerback group thanks to Kendall Fuller‘s Washington return and Bashaud Breeland‘s four-game suspension. GM Brett Veach confirmed the team considered signing a veteran early in camp but saw enough from fourth-round rookie L’Jarius Sneed and young replacement options Rashad Fenton and Antonio Hamilton to stick with the status quo, per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • Lynn Bowden Jr.‘s Raiders tenure not lasting until Week 1 represented one of this summer’s more surprising developments, but the team viewed the third-round pick as ineffective on the field and a potential red flag off it. A lack of explosiveness contributed to the Raiders shipping Bowden to the Dolphins, according to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, who adds the team was also concerned about the Kentucky product’s off-field approach — particularly after the team’s move to Las Vegas (subscription required). The Raiders ate Bowden’s $985K signing bonus to send the gadget player to Miami.

Chiefs Sign Second-Round WR Mecole Hardman

May 4th, 2019 at 12:57pm CST by Ben Levine

After signing 17 undrafted free agents earlier today, the Chiefs have also inked the majority of their draft class to contracts. The team announced that they have signed four of their six draft picks:

The Chiefs didn’t have a first-rounder, so Hardman was ultimately their first selection. The Georgia product was productive during his junior season, hauling in 35 receptions for 543 yards and second touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams, where he returned 30 combined kicks and punts. Considering the uncertainty of Tyreek Hill, Hardman has an opportunity to emerge as one of Patrick Mahomes‘ preferred targets. Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson are currently atop the Chiefs’ depth chart at receiver.

Thompson is another intriguing prospect who could have an opportunity to contribute right away. The Chiefs are currently rostering a three running backs in Damien Williams, Carlos Hyde and Darrel Williams, meaning the rookie should have a chance to make the roster as a third back.

Following these signings, the Chiefs are left with a pair of unsigned draft picks: second-round safety Juan Thornhill (Virginia) and third-round defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (Western Illinois).