Chiefs get mixed bag of Nick Bolton, Kadarius Toney injury updates
The Kansas City Chiefs are set to welcome back two key offensive contributors Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
The Kansas City Chiefs won’t quite be at full-strength for Sunday’s matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Given the
team’s comments on Nick Bolton’s injury status, though, the defending Super Bowl champions could have their
complete roster available as the season’s stretch run begins in earnest next week.
Bolton, the Chiefs’ star middle linebacker, won’t play against the Packers in Week 13 as Kansas City plays his return
from a dislocated left wrist with extra caution. He’s on track to play at home versus the Buffalo Bills on December
10th, though, and the Chiefs are getting two key contributors back on the other side of the ball at Lambeau Field
amid his continued absence.
“The Chiefs say they will probably wait a week on LB Nick Bolton. Everybody else — including RB Jerick
McKinnon and WR Kadarius Toney — is expected to play against the Packers,” Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead
Pride reported on Twitter Friday morning.
Assessing Chiefs’ returns and absences vs. Packers
Bolton is the biggest name on the official injury report, but Kansas City’s defense remains well equipped to thrive
without him. Offseason addition Drue Tranquill has already filled in for Bolton as defensive coordinator Steve
Spagnuolo’s top middle linebacker and defensive play-caller seven times this season, with the Chiefs’ much-improved
defense barely missing a beat.
While Tranquill isn’t as effective against the run as Bolton, he’s quietly emerged as one of the best cover linebackers
in football and is hardly afraid to throw his weight around in the run game and as a blitzer. Tranquill enters Week 13
with a team-high 71 tackles, six tackles for loss, three and-a-half sacks and two forced fumbles.
Toney’s return to the field from ankle and hip injuries, meanwhile, is a boon for an offensive attack that finally found
some of its footing in last week’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Earmarked as Patrick Mahomes’ No. 1 receiver
coming into training camp, he’s disappointed this season compared to those sky-high expectations, mostly serving as
a gadget player despite Kansas City’s well-chronicled struggles at wide receiver. Toney has 22 catches for 139 yards
and a touchdown, averaging just 6.3 yards per reception.
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