Tyler Palko, Not Ricky Stanzi, Next In Line With Matt Cassel's Injury

Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel suffered a significant hand injury in Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos which will require surgery. Chiefs coach Todd Haley said Cassel's season is in jeopardy after the injury. That the Chiefs have even acknowledged the injury should tell you it's pretty serious. 

We'll be dissecting this situation all week but the immediate question is who plays on Monday Night Football against the New England Patriots. That would be Tyler Palko, the Chiefs immediate backup this season.

This raises another question: What about Ricky Stanzi?

The Chiefs spent a fifth round pick on Stanzi in the 2011 NFL draft so the obvious reaction from some in the fan base is that the Chiefs should see what they have in Stanzi.

But that's unlikely to happen. Kent Babb of the KC Star has said a few times this year, including just today after the Cassel news came out, that Stanzi is not a candidate to play this year for the Chiefs. "Will not factor in the rest of the way," Babb tweeted.

So, there's that. Maybe circumstances change things down the road but, for now, Tyler Palko is your starting quarterback of the Chiefs.