To answer the question in the headline: Yes, we should be concerned. Any time a pass rusher is missing practice, it’s not a good thing.
Dee Ford, the KC Chiefs pass rusher, left Sunday’s game against the Chargers with what the Chiefs called a hip injury. Four days later, he didn’t practice on Thursday with what the Chiefs called a back injury.
The Chiefs would be down to Frank Zombo if Ford is out. (Maybe some Tanoh Kpassagnon too?) With Tamba Hali already out, Zombo is basically the Chiefs fourth option at outside linebacker. He’s competent but if you could get your Ford, a former first round pick, in there you would.
We’ll see how he does this week. The Chiefs will be practicing on Friday and Saturday before Monday Night Football against the Redskins. If he doesn’t practice at all this week, that’s usually a good sign he won’t be playing on Monday night. The next two practice reports will be key.
It’s been a quiet season so far for Ford, perhaps because we’ve been spending our time focusing on Justin Houston’s strong start. Ford has one sack and one forced fumble to his credit so far on the season.
In other Chiefs practice news, C Mitch Morse remains out with his injury. The reports were it would take a few weeks so we weren’t expecting him this week anyway. OT Eric Fisher (back) and LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (groin) were limited while G Parker Ehinger (knee), NT Bennie Logan (knee) and WR De’Anthony Thomas (shoulder) practiced in full.