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Just a few minutes before Brett Favre and Greg Jennings sucked the air out of Arrowhead Stadium and the Chiefs season, linebacker A.J. Hawk tackled Larry Johnson on a short pass to the left side of the field. Both players twisted awkwardly as they fell to the ground. Two went down. One got up.

Larry Johnson left Arrowhead that day with what was initially called a mid-foot sprain. Since then, the Chiefs have lost six straight games and have put two backup players on the injured reserve list, center Rudy Niswanger and quarterback Tyler Thigpen.

For a couple of weeks after the initial injury, we wondered if Larry would require season-ending surgery on his foot. Turns out he didn't. Larry himself reassured us he'd be back but he wasn't sure when.

Six weeks later and each week we've been fed the same line about Larry and his status.

"He's getting rehab, is going to be out this week. Feeling a little better."

The Chiefs have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Playing Larry at this point in the season would be fruitless and potentially dangerous, considering the obvious severity of his foot injury and the obvious weaknesses of our offensive line. Missing six games already and having the season dissolve during that time are two more reasons to sit LJ for the rest of the season. Herm Edwards has said Larry hasn't been put on IR because coming back for a game or two would do good things for Larry's confidence.

Priest Holmes is gone, Kolby Smith is nicked up and we have another running back waiting in the wings on the practice squad. With such an emphasis on youth and competition by our head coach, why is Larry Johnson taking up a valuable roster spot with only three games remaining in the season?

Is putting Larry on IR an admission by Herm Edwards that he overworked the Pro-Bowl runner last season?

Is the Chiefs' brass miffed about a source within the organization leaking information before they were ready to release it? Do they not want to give credence to that report?

Is Larry Johnson looking to leave Kansas City after this season and doesn't want to admit the severity of his injury? Larry did sign a massive contract this past offseason but the Chiefs future can't seem very bright in his eyes.

Or is Larry Johnson really on the verge of coming back, with Larry himself insisting to the coaching staff that he'll return?

I'll throw my speculation out there. It's simple. I think that the Chiefs don't want to add another disappointing storyline to the 2007 season. With Larry still on the active roster, there's still technically hope that he'll return and that this team isn't totally broken. "Injured reserve" has such a nice, contrite way of relaying information to fans. You hear "injured reserve" and your immediate thought is, "Season over". Putting LJ on injured reserve is an official action by the organization that would bring that much more attention to one of the worst seasons the Chiefs have experienced in twenty years. Better to let the story fade as the season ends than make a public declaration.

In relation to the local media, the Kansas City Chiefs are like a bully with low-self esteem. They won't take the high road, as evidenced by the repeated jabs given to Jason Whitlock, sports talk radio hosts and The Kansas City Star on KCChiefs.com. They even have an anonymous writer, "Rufus Dawes", who refutes the biggest criticisms of the week sent in by fans. The Chiefs have chosen a strategy of actively defending themselves against the local media and the lack of information about Larry Johnson is another battle in that fight.

The Chiefs are going to keep their mouth shut on the Larry Johnson injury issue and frankly, I don't think they care if we want to know or not.

No surprise here.  From Herm's press conference:

Q: Any update on Larry Johnson's injury? Has he been reevaluated?

EDWARDS: "Same thing. He's getting rehab, is going to be out this week. Feeling a little better."

With Priest's status for the game this weekend in doubt, if LJ was even remotely healthy then he would dress.  The Chiefs know that putting Kolby Smith in as the featured back could have disastrous results.  Nothing against the rookie, but he hasn't gotten many reps and our offensive line isn't exactly at its best.  I don't think LJ is even close to playing.  Several different sources are citing that LJ is indeed done for the season.  But, the official site hasn't said anything yet.  

Per Fox Sports:

According to sources, Holmes was dinged two or three times on Sunday. The last time came in the fourth quarter, which saw him leave the field in a wobbly state after his 20th touch of the game.

As a result, Holmes saw a specialist early this week and will see a series of specialists who can help him better determine his future. In light of the fact Holmes is already returning from a neck injury, this latest scare certainly has to raise questions, not only about this year, but about the future of his career.

Leg injuries are one thing.  A torn ACL, it's tough, but people can come back from that.  But, with a neck, no one is going to be taking any chances.  After only his second full start, specialists are already questioning Priest's health status.  With LJ already out, and assuming Priest is out this week, rookie Kolby Smith will become the featured back.

This report is from Jay Glazer.  The Chiefs haven't officially offered any word on this yet.  Let's keep our fingers crossed on this one.

Update: Adam Schefter of the NFL Network is reporting that Priest Holmes is set to announce his retirement as early as Wednesday afternoon. Check back here for updates or leave your own in the comments section throughout the day.

This update from Jay Glazer of Fox Sports says the Chiefs will find out today if Larry Johnson needs surgery on his injured right foot.

Wow. This is quite the turn of events. Last week it was reported that Larry was walking without a boot and that he expected to return this season. Now, who knows? We'll find out today. There may be some truth to that MyFox Colorado report after all.

Hat tip to Arrowhead Addict.

UPDATE #2 Fox 4 in Kansas City says the Chiefs staff denied the Fox Colorado story, saying they haven't heard from their medical staff that Larry Johnson has a broken foot.

UPDATE #1 "Anderson" is Josina Anderson, a reporter for the television station. Still no confirmation on LJ's injury status. Their site has updated their post with the Larry Johnson stock photo from KCChiefs.com though.

I'm not even going to pretend that this report is true until I can confirm. But here you go, from a Colorado television station website:

There are obvious problems with this story. Who is "Anderson" in the last paragraph? And Larry Johnson injured his right foot, not his left.

I'll be here, waiting to confirm.

Hat tip to Arrowhead Addict for the scoop.

Herm Edwards basically said that Larry Johnson is ruled out for this weekend's game against the Broncos.

The real question is -- What is the severity of the injury? The tubes are a flurry with rumors about the seriousness of Larry Johnson's foot injury, with some even speculating that the injury could be long-term. I'm not a doctor and I haven't examined Larry's foot so I won't give any credence to those rumors. All we know right now is that Larry is almost assuredly going to miss this weekend's game and that the Chiefs are waiting on further test results and second opinions to determine how severe of an injury it is.

Like I said yesterday, whether Larry Johnson plays or not is probably moot. LJ or no LJ, the Chiefs running game is broken.

A few injury updates via KFFL:

• CB Benny Sapp did not practice today and is not expected to play this weekend because of an ankle injury.
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• Same thing with LB Keyaron Fox. He's having hamstring issues.
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• WR Eddie Kennison did some individual workouts today but did not practice with the team because of his pulled hamstring. He is not expected to play this weekend.
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• And the one you've been waiting for. After sitting out the last two days of practice with a sore hamstring, Larry Johnson practiced today and is expected to play this weekend.

I didn't think much of LJ's sore hamstring but I was cautiously waiting to see if he practiced today. Hopefully this isn't a reoccurring problem as hamstring injuries seem to be.

Ouch.

So not a pulled hamstring but a torn one. Kennison will reportedly miss at least a month. As important a player as I consider Eddie Kennison, the upside is that Dwayne Bowe will be forced to grow up quickly in this league. Lets look at this injury on the positive side. Our no. 1 pick will gain some experience.

Jacksonville Jaguars

OUT: T Stockar McDougle (Chest)

DOUBTFUL: S Deon Grant (Hamstring)

QUESTIONABLE: DT Tony McDaniel (Hip)

PROBABLE: RB Maurice Jones-Drew (Knee); RB Derrick Wimbush (Ankle); WR Matt Jones (Hamstring); LB Jorge Cordova (Hamstring); CB Rashean Mathis (Illness); QB David Garrard (Hamstring); DT Marcus Stroud (Ankle); P Chris Hanson (Left Hamstring); RB Fred Taylor (Hamstring).

Kansas City Chiefs

OUT: LB Rich Scanlon (Neck)

QUESTIONABLE: DE Jimmy Wilkerson (Hamstring); RB Michael Bennett (Ankle); T Kyle Turley (Shoulder)

PROBABLE: TE Jason Dunn (Back).

Chiefs

QUESTIONABLE
DE Jimmy Wilkerson (Hamstring)
T Kyle Turley (Shoulder)
LB Rich Scanlon (Neck)

Chargers

OUT
WR Malcom Floyd (Ankle)

DOUBTFUL
G Scott Mruczkowski (Knee)

QUESTIONABLE
DE Luis Castillo (Ankle)
LB Randall Godfrey (Calf)
LB Marques Harris (Hamstring)
WR Keenan McCardell (Calf)
LB Shaun Phillips (Hamstring)
DE Derreck Robinson (Foot)

PROBABLE
C Nick Hardwick (Ankle)
S Marlon McCree (Calf)
S Bhawoh Jue (Knee)
DT Jamal Williams (Knee)
RB Michael Turner (Hamstring)