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12/15 14:17 CST Chiefs face uncertain future as quarterback Patrick Mahomes is
set for ACL surgery
Chiefs face uncertain future as quarterback Patrick Mahomes is set for ACL
surgery
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) --- The Kansas City Chiefs know they will be playing out
the final three games of the season without Patrick Mahomes, who will soon
undergo surgery to repair the torn left ACL that he sustained in a loss to the
Los Angeles Chargers that eliminated them from playoff contention.
That much is clear.
The rest of the future is far more hazy for an organization that for the past
decade has been playing well into January, and often into February, and then
spent the offseason simply reinforcing a brilliant but suddenly aging core of
star players.
Will Mahomes sufficiently recover by the start of next season? Will tight end
Travis Kelce retire? And coach Andy Reid, for that matter? Will general manager
Brett Veach finally hit on some skill position talent, especially in the early
rounds of the draft? And can the Chiefs find someone --- anyone --- who is
capable of pressuring the quarterback on an every-down basis?
"You know, I'm always optimistic about going forward," Reid said Monday. "Brett
Veach does a heck of a job with bringing in players. You can see now with the
guys playing. And then it's our responsibility on the coaching side of it, and
the players taking responsibility on their end, and playing these three games,
and whoever is here after to retool it."
The finishing kick begins with a trip to lowly Tennessee on Sunday.
Kelce recently said he would inform the Chiefs on whether he plans to retire by
early March, before the start of free agency, so they have a chance to plan
accordingly. Role players such as wide receiver Marquise Brown, running back
Isiah Pacheco, cornerback Jaylen Watson and safety Bryan Cook are pending free
agents, and there are holes throughout the roster.
The most pressing needs are at wide receiver, where Rashee Rice and Xavier
Worthy have failed to take the next step into becoming a No. 1 target; running
back, where Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have failed to provide any pop; and
defensive end, where the Chiefs have struggled to generate a pass rush
throughout the season.
Oh, and quarterback. They have nobody under contract besides Mahomes for next
season.
"When you lose close games, you search for things," Reid said, "because you
want to fix it. And sometimes it's a penalty here, it's a turnover here. You
get a variety of things. It's always one little thing that determines close
games, normally. And we've had our share of those, and you can't have those. It
could be the wrong play --- calling the wrong play at the wrong time. We've all
got a piece in this thing, and you've got to keep striving to fix it, and do
what you have to do in the offseason."
What's working The Chiefs were concerned about their rush defense at the onset of the season, but it has been quietly stellar. They held the Chargers to just 94 yards on 29 carries --- a paltry 3.2 per attempt --- and repeatedly gave their offense an opportunity with the ball. What needs help The offense. All of it. Imagine saying that five years ago. After years spent drafting at the end of Round 1, the Chiefs should be closer to the top 10, and that means a better opportunity to get an impact player to help an offense gone stagnant. Stock up WR Tyquan Thornton has earned more time on the field. He has been the Chiefs' best big-play threat in the passing game, and the way he hauled in a long pass while taking a vicious shot late on Sunday underscored his desire to help Kansas City win. Stock down Rice had seven catches for just 57 yards, but he also had another drop and appeared to take several plays off. Then he refused to talk to reporters who wanted to ask him about the performance after the game, leaving his teammates to do it for him. Injuries Thornton (concussion protocol) and RT Jaylon Moore (knee) didn't finish the game against the Chargers. ... The Chiefs also had CB Trent McDuffie (knee), LT Wanya Morris (knee), Brown (personal) and RG Trey Smith (ankle) inactive. Key number 10 --- The number of consecutive years that Kansas City had qualified for the playoffs. Next steps The Chiefs visit the Titans for a meaningless game Sunday, unless you factor in draft positioning. Then they return home for a chance to play spoiler against AFC West-leading Denver on Christmas night. The finale is on the road against the Raiders. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL |
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