Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 9/6

Seven Takeaways From Monday's Chiefs Media Availability from Chiefs.com

2. It isn't likely running back Jamaal Charles plays against the San Diego Chargers next Sunday.

Reid: "Jamaal has to keep working through it. It would be a stretch for him to play on Sunday. We'll see how it goes, though."

3. Phillip Gaines was confirmed as the team's starting right cornerback opposite Marcus Peters.

Reid: "It'll be [Phillip] Gaines and we've got a few more guys that can play the position."

‘It would be a stretch' for Chiefs' Jamaal Charles to play Sunday from The Kansas City Star

For the last several weeks, Chiefs coach Andy Reid has gone about softly tempering expectations about running back Jamaal Charles' availability for the start of the season.

And on Monday, Reid continued along that path, saying the 29-year-old Charles, who is working his way back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, probably won't be ready to go for their season opener against the San Diego Chargers on Sept. 11 at Arrowhead Stadium.

"Yeah, Jamaal has to keep working through it — it would be a stretch for him to play on Sunday," Reid said. "We'll see how it goes, though."

Chiefs' Jamaal Charles "a stretch" to play Sunday from Chiefs Digest

The Chiefs may be without Charles but likely will have safety Eric Berry and linebacker Tamba Hali available. Reid said Berry looked likely to play the full game Sunday if healthy, while Hali likely works in a rotation.

"I don't think Tamba will play the full load, we'll rotate Tamba and just by sheer age and wear on the body," Reid said. "If you keep him in there he's going to go 8,000 miles an hour. He does it in practice, he does it in games, which you love."

Chiefs pessimistic about Jamaal Charles' availability for Sunday from ESPN

Charles only recently returned to practice after missing much of last season because of a torn ACL. But Charles has yet to regain the featured back role he had before the injury. He did not play in any of the four preseason games.

Spencer Ware has been taking most of the starter's snaps in his place. Ware's physical running style played well against the Chargers last year. He had 148 rushing yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns in the two games against San Diego.

Chiefs general manager John Dorsey explains weekend moves from The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs also lost a pair of former fifth-round quarterbacks who cleared waivers. Aaron Murray (2014) landed on Arizona's practice squad while rookie Kevin Hogan landed on Cleveland's practice squad.

When asked if they tried to bring one or both of them back to the practice squad, Dorsey said the Chiefs are OK without a practice-squad quarterback, since they currently have three QBs (Alex Smith, Nick Foles and Tyler Bray) on the 53-man roster.

"If you kept two, then there's a chance that you would put them on the practice squad, whoever that person would be," Dorsey said. "We thought the three quarterbacks on our final 53 were good enough to be on the 53 and move forward. Tyler has been here for three years. He knows the system. He does have arm talent, and I'm very comfortable in where he is and his development."

Tyler Bray was most logical choice for Chiefs' third QB from ESPN

General manager John Dorsey made it sound as if the decision to keep Bray over the other two quarterbacks was an easy one.

"He's been in the system three years," Dorsey said. "He has deep knowledge of it. I think he has the arm talent. I think in the fourth preseason game he kind of separated himself from the other guys.

"I'm very comfortable with his development."

Tyler Bray clear winner in Chiefs third QB battle from Chiefs Digest

"He's been in the system three years, he has deep knowledge of it," Dorsey said. "I think he has the arm talent, and I think the fourth preseason game he kind of separated himself from the other guys."

Bray struggled at the outset of the final preseason game against Green Bay, but settled down to lead two key touchdown drives.

"I was standing tall and trying to throw ball through the guy's chest instead of just putting it there and giving him a ball to catch," Bray said after the game. "I calmed down, I think everyone kind of calmed down, and we started moving the ball."

De'Anthony Thomas emerges from receiver crowd and plays his way onto Chiefs' roster from The Kansas City Star

To hear general manager John Dorsey tell it, Thomas played his way onto the roster over the last few weeks, not just in one exhibition game in which the starters didn't participate.

"Ever since training camp started, De'Anthony has done a really nice job of understanding his role, what he's going to do, and I think he's earned that roster spot," Dorsey said. "He's played very well in the four preseason games.

Season-ending win will put the Kansas City Chiefs in playoffs from ESPN

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1 vs. San Diego Chargers, 4:25 p.m. ET

The Chiefs were the opponents in the Raiders' final game at the L.A. Coliseum, in 1994. And they won, too, putting themselves in the playoffs. They'll win the Chargers' final game at Qualcomm Stadium (before they move to L.A.) and put themselves in the playoffs again. Record: 10-6.

Chiefs rookie receiver Tyreek Hill changes jersey number from 81 to 10 from The Kansas City Star

New offensive tackle Bryan Witzmann is wearing No. 70, while new inside linebacker Sam Barrington is wearing No. 53 — the same number the player he's replacing, Ramik Wilson, wore.

Chiefs' many offensive weapons spell return trip to playoffs from ESPN

Keep an eye on Smith's touchdown passes. His record for a season is 23, and he needs to not just break it but finish in the upper 20s. This is the best surrounding cast he's had since he's come to the Chiefs, so if it's going to happen, it will be this year. The Chiefs will need the increased offensive production from their veteran quarterback.

Chiefs' roster lacks any undrafted rookie free agents from Lindy's Sports

For the first time in years, the Kansas City Chiefs did not have an undrafted rookie free agent make their 53-man roster.

In fact, Kansas City's early 2016 regular-season roster included just eight rookies, all of them part of the team's draft class from the spring.

Going into the 2013 season, the Chiefs found undrafted rookie quarterback Tyler Bray, who is now their No. 3 passer. The next year they found kicker Cairo Santos, wide receiver Albert Wilson and safety Daniel Sorensen -€” all three are still with the club. Last year, they found inside linebacker Justin March, although he suffered an injury in the preseason and spent the year on the injured-reserve list.

Kansas City Chiefs are on a roll from The Associated Press via The Springfield News-Leader

The longest regular-season win streak in the NFL these days belongs not to the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, the NFC champion Carolina Panthers or the perennially contending New England Patriots.

It belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The team of Alex Smith, Jamaal Charles and Co. that lost to the Patriots in the playoffs last season has not dropped a regular-season game since Oct. 18, 2015. And that means the Chiefs carry a 10-game streak into a season full of optimism that begins against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Pieces in place for Chiefs to dethrone Broncos in AFC West from The St Louis Post-Dispatch

This is a season of great expectations for the Kansas City Chiefs. The roster is deep and talented, with no glaring weaknesses and many areas of strength.

They have an accomplished, respected coach in Andy Reid. And be it penalties, turnovers or dropped passes, they just don't make many mistakes.

With quarterback Peyton Manning retired and even Brock Osweiler gone, Denver's five-year reign as AFC West Division champion could be in jeopardy. This could be the year Chiefs change the pecking order in the division — and more.

NFL Picks Week 1: Chiefs, Texans roll; Saints fall to Raiders from NOLA.com

KANSAS CITY over SAN DIEGO, Sunday at noon

No Jamaal Charles, no problem. You heard it here first: Spencer Ware will be the top running back all season, even when Charles is at full strength. No, I'm not crazy, and go get something to wipe off the coffee you spit on the screen. I hope your boss didn't see you do that. Anyway, the Chargers defense that was bad last season isn't any better, and playing at Arrowhead to start the season against a Super Bowl contender is nothing nice. Wanna advance in your suicide pool? Take the Chiefs. Against the spread: Chiefs minus-7.5.

Chargers don't need Bosa to beat Chiefs from The San Diego Union-Tribune

The Chargers actually are in better health than the Chiefs...

...When the Chargers lined up for practice Monday, lo and behold, all 22 starters were outfitted for full contact.

Injuries to the Chiefs, meantime, have stripped Kansas City's defense of at least two entrenched starters: outside linebacker Justin Houston, who causes Bolts blockers to wake up in a cold sweat; and inside linebacker Josh Mauga, a playmaker in four consecutive Chiefs victories over the Bolts.

Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chargers should be able to move the ball.

NFL Preview: These are the games not to miss from The San Jose Mercury News

Dec. 25

Denver at Kansas City

In a division that could go down to the wire, with the Raiders also competing, this one at Arrowhead Stadium merits attention on Christmas Day. A classic venue, potential bitter cold: What better way sit on the couch with egg nog?

Predicting Chargers' season, game by game from The San Diego Union-Tribune

Sept. 11 at Kansas City Chiefs L

It will take more than six points -€” the Chargers' total in two games against the Chiefs last season -€” to win. Ken Whisenhunt's offense will do that. The Chiefs defense, even with health issues up front, is formidable if not unbeatable. Melvin Gordon scores his first career touchdown, and Brandon Flowers signals return to Pro Bowl form (or near enough) with two picks against former team. But Joey Bosa runs the wrong way trying to stop Jamaal Charles on what turns out to be a game-winning touchdown run. John Pagano says to him, "It's OK. We went over that play in training camp."

NFL predictions for 2016 season from The Rexburg Standard Journal

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs 11-5 Kansas City turned some heads last season by winning their last 10 games despite Jamal Charles season ending injury in the early goings. The Chiefs 3-4 defense was steller last season and looks to be even better this season. With a some what down Denver team, watch for Kansas City to win this division.

NFL Preview Week: Which coaches are on the hot seat? Which aren't? from Yahoo! Sports

Comfortably Cool...

...Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

Reid led one heck of a turnaround last season: Kansas City was 1-5 after a 16-10 loss to the Vikings, but didn't lose again until the divisional round of the playoffs, against the Patriots. Their wild-card win over Houston was the Chiefs' first postseason win since 1993. So he's bought himself some time.