Last time the Kansas City Chiefs played the San Diego Chargers they received a welcome surprise on the Saturday before the game that TE Antonio Gates would not be playing in the game due to a foot injury. Considering Gates' ability and what he's done to the Chiefs in the past, that was a huge injury for San Diego. It helped the Chiefs defense to stop the Chargers offense from going crazy in Week 3 as they scored just 20 points.
In Monday night's game, the Chargers might be without one of their starting offensive linemen. LT Marcus McNeill has a neck sprain that could keep him out of the Monday night game. Head coach Norv Turner didn't get into specifics when talking about injuries but the North County Times says McNeill is "expected" to miss Monday's game and the San Diego Union-Tribune says he's one of a group of players whose status is "most in doubt."
The Chiefs beat the McNeill-less Chargers in Week 1 last year as he was holding out for a new contract. Brandyn Dombrowski started in his place and presumably would do the same this week if McNeill can't go.
We're still a few days from having a good idea of whether McNeill will be available but it's noteworthy that a couple of San Diego papers aren't sure if he'll be out there.
Gates, on the other hand, should be ready for the game this weekend. He had five catches last weekend in his first game back since Week 2.