KANSAS CITY, Mo.
— The Kansas City Chiefs continue to showcase their resilience, maintaining their winning streak even as injuries mount within their roster.
The latest casualties came during their 28-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers, where cornerback Jaylen Watson suffered a season-ending ankle injury, and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster sustained a hamstring injury. This victory marks the 12th consecutive win for the Chiefs, a streak that has been bolstered by their ability to adapt despite losing several key players.
“The foundation is built on the relationships within the locker room, the coaching staff, and the trust the players have in one another,” remarked Chiefs head coach Andy Reid when discussing how they manage adversity. “The journey of a season is rarely smooth. There are bound to be challenges throughout. We focus on winning one game at a time, and the dynamics in the locker room play a significant role, alongside the mindset of the coaching staff.”
Watson had emerged as a key player in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, helping the Chiefs to stifle some potent offenses in the league. With his absence, Nazeeh Johnson, who recently returned from a severe knee injury, is poised to step in as the replacement ahead of the upcoming game against the Raiders in Las Vegas.
The situation concerning Smith-Schuster is equally alarming, given the ongoing struggles faced in the Chiefs’ receiving corps. Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown both underwent surgeries earlier in the season, resulting in their respective seasons ending prematurely. Reid confirmed that Smith-Schuster would be sidelined for at least one game, and with his injury history, it is likely the Chiefs will seek additional help before the trade deadline on November 5.
Additionally, the Chiefs have other options on their practice squad, including Nikko Remigio, Montrell Washington, and Justyn Ross. “We have confidence in all the guys on our practice squad and feel they can contribute,” Reid stated. “We’ve had discussions about our next steps and consulted with the players in an offensive meeting to gauge their perspectives. We’re evaluating everything.”
On a positive note, the Chiefs’ rushing attack excelled, accumulating a season-high 184 yards against the 49ers, despite the absence of starting running back Isiah Pacheco due to a leg fracture. Kareem Hunt made a significant impact with 78 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Mecole Hardman added another score with 38 yards from two jet sweeps.
However, the team has faced challenges in defending against tight ends, as highlighted by George Kittle’s performance, during which he was instrumental in sustaining the 49ers’ offense with six receptions for 92 yards.
In terms of individual performances, tight end Noah Gray stood out with four catches for 66 yards against San Francisco, especially important as opposing teams focus on star tight end Travis Kelce and as injuries ravage the wide receiver group. Gray’s ability to exploit one-on-one matchups will be vital as the season progresses.
On a less favorable note, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is displaying his first signs of struggle, having thrown two interceptions and failing to achieve a touchdown pass for a second consecutive game. With only six touchdown passes and eight interceptions thus far this season, his struggles can largely be attributed to the injuries affecting his supporting players.
In terms of health, aside from Watson and Smith-Schuster’s injuries, the Chiefs came out relatively unscathed from the game.
As for noteworthy statistics, the Chiefs’ defense managed to intercept 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy three times during the matchup.
Looking ahead, the Chiefs are set to continue their West Coast journey with a matchup against the Raiders on Sunday.