The Kansas City Chiefs have been relatively lucky this season in terms of injuries. Whether it be because of the conditioning or pure luck, the Chiefs have consistently had few players on the injury report.
This week, injuries are a topic of conversation. Before we get onto a few of the injury situations, I wanted to share this quote from Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star yesterday morning:
But the tallest challenge for Haley has been establishing a philosophy that injuries, which he says are occasionally unavoidable, are sometimes viewed as a sign of weakness. Free safety Jarrad Page faced doubts after he suggested during the preseason that an injury should keep him out of the Chiefs’ third exhibition game. Johnson has endured several nagging injuries that kept him on the sideline during practices and threatened his job security.
Haley has made it clear that the way players react to injuries might determine their futures in Kansas City. If players nurse their wounds too long or report minor issues as long-lasting problems, Haley takes mental notes.
Interesting stuff. Check out the full article here. Definitely worth the read.
More on Rudy Niswanger being carted off, Jarrad Page's healthy scratch and an inactive Albert after the jump.
Niswanger carted off
Chiefs C Rudy Niswanger went down in the second quarter with an apparent knee injury.
On a 4th and one, QB Matt Cassel ran a quarterback sneak over center Rudy Niswanger. After the failed attempt, trainers had to help Niswanger off the field where he was walking with a heavy limp.
He went to the bench where a few trainers gathered around him. A few minutes later, he was brought off the field on a cart.
All we know at this point, is that it's a knee injury and he did not return. I could tell from my seat that he was in quite a bit of pain when he was trying to walk.
Wade Smith, who started at left tackle in place of the injured Branden Albert, slid over to center. Barry Richardson, who was just promoted from the practice squad last week, took Smith's spot at left tackle.
Quite the shuffle. My guess is that a few centers might be worked out today and tomorrow.
Page is a healthy scratch
Safety Jarrad Page appeared on the injury report as a full participant in practice and probable for Sunday. Per head coach Todd Haley, Page was a healthy scratch.
"I think he was healthy enough to play," Haley said.
Safety Jon McGraw started in his spot.
"I thought McGraw had played very well the last couple weeks when he's been in there," said the head coach. "Again, it's a roster deal there where we're trying to juggle a lot of different spots and who we think can help us any given day."
McGraw started last week when Page was out with a shoulder injury. McGraw had been running with the first team during practice.
Albert is inactive
Left tackle Branden Albert was inactive yesterday Multiple reports as the week progressed suggested the odds didn't look good for him, and they were right.
The Chiefs were especially thin at tackle yesterday when Smith had to move over to center so his presence was missed.
Like I've said before, I'm not privy to the details on his injury but you've gotta wonder whether Haley had the bye week in mind. If Albert sits now, that'll be three consecutive weeks of resting the ankle.