Rounding up the latest on Kansas City Chiefs injuries ahead of Minnesota Vikings week

The Kansas City Chiefs had six players who did not play on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers due to injury. In addition, three players were injured during the game — defensive end Alex Okafor and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif both left the game with ankle issues and cornerback Bashaud Breeland “hurt his sternum area,” per head coach Andy Reid, but he was able to return and play through it.

Here are some brief updates on the six players who did not play in the game due to injury:

QB Patrick Mahomes (kneecap dislocation)

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the expectation is Mahomes returns against the Tennessee Titans for Kansas City Week 10 game. I fully expect the Chiefs to play the will he-won’t he start game for the second consecutive week.

DE Frank Clark (neck)

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that Clark “was OK” to finish the Chiefs’ Week 7 game against the Denver Broncos, then said Clark’s neck was “acting up a little bit” last week. Clark never practiced due to the injury. On Sunday, Rapoport reported Clark should be considered “week-to-week.” He also said Clark has been “battling this,” though the defensive end never appeared on an injury report until last week.

What exactly happened here? Based upon Rapoport’s information, I would not expect Clark to be available against Minnesota.

DT Chris Jones (groin)

Last Wednesday, Reid suggested Jones might work, but he never ended up practicing. Similar to the case with Clark, Rapoport called Jones “week-to-week” back on October 7. I think Jones could return to practice this week, but it remains to be seen if he plays against Minnesota.

LT Eric Fisher (groin)

Eric Fisher had a limited practice on Wednesday and Thursday of last week but not on Friday, as he begins his return from a Week 2 groin injury that required surgery. Fisher played just four snaps Week 2 against the Oakland Raiders before being pulled from the game. Wednesday’s practice status will be telling as to whether Sunday could mark a potential return for the starting left tackle.

CB Kendall Fuller (thumb)

Rapoport reported on October 15 that Fuller was believed to suffer a fracture on his right thumb in the Chiefs’ game against the Houston Texans. Last year, Fuller suffered an injury to the same hand/wrist and only was out of action for one game. He wore protection on the hand the rest of the year. Now Fuller has missed two games, but I think Friday’s limited practice status is a good sign for his chances at returning to the lineup this week.

LG Andrew Wylie (ankle)

Wylie has missed the Chiefs’ last three games with an ankle injury he suffered in the team’s Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts. But Wylie was a limited participant in practice Thursday and Friday of last week. If he ramps up to a full participant on Wednesday, that would be a good sign that he might be eligible to return this weekend.

But have the Chiefs liked what they’ve seen from Martinas Rankin enough to start him over last year’s Mack Lee Hill (rookie of the year) award-winner? My guess is no — but you never know. More on Rankin here.

Editor’s note: The Chiefs typically don’t provide new injury updates on Monday — we should find out more on Wednesday.