Chiefs HC Andy Reid gives lengthy injury update on several key players after Week 16 win over the Texans
The Kansas City Chiefs notched a hard-fought 27-19 victory over the Houston Texans in their final home game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium during the 2024 NFL regular season.
Unfortunately, the Chiefs did not escape the win unscathed, suffering injuries at key positions throughout the game. This is a major concern, given that they have just three days between this win and their next game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.
First, the team lost LB Jack Cochrane to an ankle injury. Next, starting RT Jawaan Taylor went out with a knee injury. Finally, Chiefs star DT Chris Jones left the game with a calf injury. Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke to media members following the win, providing updates on those three players.
“I didn’t mention injuries,” Reid began. So, the injuries, Jack Cochrane has a left ankle fracture, so that’s not a good thing. And then Jawaan [Taylor] strained his knee, and Chris Jones strained his calf. Other than that, we’re okay there.”
Cochrane is likely headed to injured reserve, which will be a big loss for special teams and the team’s linebacker depth. Jones, of course, is the motor that makes the defense go. The defense did a nice job in the few series they got without him on the field, but they’d much rather have him out there. Asked about Jones’ status for Week 17 against the Steelers, Reid didn’t reveal much.
“Yeah, It’s probably too early to tell right now,” Reid said. “We’ll just see how he does here, but I can’t tell you that. I mean, he’s going to get the MRIs and all that stuff, so I don’t have any of that information.”
Jones was able to walk off the field under his own power, giving TE Travis Kelce a high-five as he left the field. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.
On the offensive side of the ball, the offensive line was already quite jumbled, with D.J. Humphries missing at left tackle. The injury to Taylor forced Wanya Morris, the team’s former starter at left tackle, into the game at the right tackle position.
“Yeah, I thought they did nice,” Reid said of his backup offensive linemen. “I thought Wanya [Morris] did a nice job coming in. I thought Joe [Thuney] did a nice job on the other side, too, to step in there, and [Mike] Caliendo did a nice job there, too, at the guard spot. But Wanya has gone back to the drawing board and worked on it, and it’s getting better every day. I know I say that, but both those two young guys [Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia] are going to be OK. They’ve been working like crazy to get themselves back where they need to be.”
Humphries is expected to return to the starting lineup for Week 17 against the Steelers. If Taylor’s injury necessitates an absence, Morris could potentially start at right tackle for the first time in Kansas City.