Chiefs Coach Todd Haley Explains Chris Chambers' Inactive Decision

For the second consecutive week the Kansas City Chiefs placed WR Chris Chambers on the inactive list. Chambers had a finger injury a couple weeks ago but Todd Haley last week indicated that he was probably healthy enough to play. We took that as being a healthy scratch which it is.

"I can't say that it's not health related at all," Haley said on Monday, "but like I said all these guys are not going to feel any better than they do today. It's just the way it goes. Chris has a little issue he's been fighting through but I think I said it [last week] from the stand point that if he had to he could have played but again, big picture for me as the head coach, what I've been trying to promote and push is that we need everybody. "

Hopping into the game in place of Chambers was WR Verran Tucker, who the Chiefs signed off the practice squad this week. Tucker, a rookie free agent, played special teams which was a "critical" part of the decision, Haley says.

It sounds like there were some health questions with Chambers but it makes you wonder about him when Haley considers a special teams spot more valuable than him on offense. Chambers, with just seven catches this year, is not having the type of season (statistically) many of us thought he would have.

Haley says Chambers was a "great teammate" on the sidelines yesterday helping with some of the younger receivers so this isn't a situation where Chambers is creating a distraction because he's not playing.

"Chris is going to be back and he's going to be contributing for us hopefully sooner rather than later," Haley said.