Some Doubt As To Whether Jonathan Baldwin Suits Up For Chiefs This Weekend

Another game for the Kansas City Chiefs is coming up and once again we're wondering whether first round pick Jonathan Baldwin will see the field. Baldwin has seen action in one preseason game but other than that he hasn't been on the field for the Chiefs in a game.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley indicated he was a healthy scratch against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5 after he went through the entire week as a full participant in practice. Haley also indicated that special teams came into play when deciding whether he would make the active roster on gameday.

There's some doubt as to whether Baldwin will be active for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. Randy Covitz says in a live chat for the KC Star that he thinks it's "doubtful" that Baldwin plays this weekend, largely due to special teams' ability. Adam Teicher of the KC Star suggested the same thing earlier this week.

Haley went on SiriusXM NFL Radio Wednesday morning and expanded on his decision not to play Baldwin against the Colts, and also talked about Baldwin's future.

"It was just a matter of, you know that game day roster, you gotta take a lot of things into consideration -- special teams, other positions, injuries and things like that," Haley said. "Against Indianapolis, he was ready and had a very good week of practice but I think we had to do what was best for the team and I think we ended up being right in that we won the game."

Moving forward, Haley expects Baldwin to continue working and says that "the guys that are able to contribute the most plays on Sunday, taking into consideration on offense and special teams, will be the guys that we have to have up and going. He has a very good chance and he's been doing nothing but working really hard and I think the work will pay off for him and for us."

Haley also said noted that Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston are starting to come into their own, as is Matt Cassel, and he doesn't want to do anything that would disrupt how well they've been playing.

"One thing I know I don't want to do is disrupt that dynamic...there's a lot of things to weigh and balance but the more hands on deck, the better. I think he's going to be a real good player for us here and it's just a matter of getting him involved and into it in the right manner that doesn't disrupt anybody else, but yet helps us."