Did Chiefs' Albert Wilson just replace Donnie Avery? Also, Joe Mays and Dee Ford play

The Kansas City Chiefs snap counts for their 17-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals reveal some shuffling going on with the Chiefs roster. The Chiefs played Donnie Avery for exactly one snap in this game; instead it was rookie Albert Wilson who played the majority of snaps, lining up for 48 of the Chiefs 65 snaps. Wilson, who gained some fans with a solid preseason, actually produced with four catches for 53 yards. If Wilson can develop, that would be huge for the Chiefs, who have few future options at receiver.

Did we just see the switch from Avery to Wilson at receiver? Or is Avery still healing up from his injury that had him miss almost two months? If Wilson is replacing Avery, it's a big deal for the Chiefs because Avery is in the second year of a three-year, $8.5 million deal. Wilson is a rookie receiver. This is an easy decision if it comes down to it.

Also note that Junior Hemingway was out in this game. Frankie Hammond, who has replaced Dwayne Bowe before,  Color me intrigued by the Chiefs decisions at receiver.

Three items of note with the Chiefs linebackers: 1.) Joe Mays played his first significant snaps as a Chief. He started the season on short term IR and is just now getting regular playing time. 2.) Dee Ford sighting! He played 15 snaps after playing zero on defense the last three games. 3.) James-Michael Johnson played special teams but no defense.

Snap counts come via the NFL. Here is Week 14.

OFFENSE

• For the second straight week, Travis Kelce played significantly more snaps than Anthony Fasano. I don't know if we have seen the official switch from No. 2 to No. 1 tight end or if the Chiefs are still being cautious with Fasano's injury he's coming back from. Either way, this is a welcome move. Not as a knock on Fasano but a credit to Kelce, who had 110 yards receiving on Sunday.
• Junior Hemingway was ruled out before the game with a concussion.
• Jamaal Charles ended up missing 15 snaps when he hurt his ankle.
• Donald Stephenson played all of five snaps. No replacing Ryan Harris in this game.
• I repeatedly said that Jason Avant isn't good enough to make a difference this late in the season. But he's, what, the second best receiver on the field? Nice November pickup for the Chiefs. He had five catches for 64 yards.
• DAT had three touches in 18 snaps. That could probably stand to go up.

DEFENSE

• What's up, Dee Ford? We just pointed out last week that it seems hard to believe the Chiefs could move on from Tamba Hali or Justin Houston when Ford hasn't played a defensive snap in a month. And then he comes out and plays 15 snaps, including a snap on the Chiefs first defensive drive. Is this when the Chiefs start working him in more? Well, note that Hali and Houston did not miss a single snap on defense. In fact, five Chiefs played ever snap on defense.
• Allen Bailey did not play in this game due to a concussion. Vance Walker, who signed a multi-year deal this offseason, saw most of his snaps.
• Jaye Howard, the other forgotten defensive end, stood out on a number of his 28 snaps. The Chiefs may have found a nice rotational player there. Guess it just took Bailey being out for me to notice him more.
• Remember when the Chiefs were going to rotate in more for Dontari Poe to get him some rest? He took two snaps off.
• James-Michael Johnson did not play one snap on defense. Guess he was benched?