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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marcus Kemp’s season is officially over, according to friend-of-the-site Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest.
The MRI on #Chiefs WR Marcus Kemp confirmed the initial diagnosis from Saturday, he torn the ACL and MCL in his knee, per source. The injury ends his season, and unfortunately comes just as he was coming into his own as a receiver. Was having a very strong camp.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) August 19, 2019
Kemp left the Chiefs’ Saturday night preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers via a cart after suffering the injury, and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid called it the “most significant” of the injuries in his post-game press conference. Kemp needed an MRI, which confirmed both an ACL and MCL tear in his knee, per Derrick.
The loss of Kemp is a terrible break for the Chiefs, especially since Kemp, in addition to being a key special teamer for Dave Toub’s units, had been having a strong training camp when it came to offense.
Kemp finished third on the Chiefs in special-teams snaps in 2018. Only tight end Demetrius Harris, who is no longer with the team and fullback Anthony Sherman, had more snaps.
Kemp is due to become an exclusive rights free agent during the 2020 offseason, so the Chiefs will have the option to keep him for next year.
As for 2019, Kemp’s injury opens the door for undrafted rookie free agent Cody Thompson to make the roster. Once a long shot to make the team, Thompson leads the Chiefs this preseason with nine catches for 88 yards.
Kemp finishes his preseason with two catches for 36 yards. The expectation is the Chiefs place Kemp on injured reserve, opening up a roster spot for offensive lineman Jeff Allen.