Reports: Chiefs “may take a couple days” on Tyreek Hill, will “likely avoid IR”

The Kansas City Chiefs may “take a couple days” before deciding what to do when it comes to wide receiver Tyreek Hill, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Our in-house injury expert, Aaron Borgmann, outlined the rarity of the injury Hill sustained here. Hill suffered a “posterior SC (sternoclavicular) dislocation” in the Chiefs’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, per Borgmann.

BORGMANN: A recent example of a wide receiver with a similar injury would be Danny Amendola for the Rams in 2012. Game records show that he only missed three games (and a bye week) with a similar injury. Since we do not have all the information, it would be reckless to make an assumption at this time when it comes to Hill’s return-to-play status.

If the Chiefs decide to place Hill on injured reserve, that means he would have to miss eight games before returning to action. The Chiefs’ next eight games are: at Oakland Raiders, vs. Baltimore Ravens, at Detroit Lions, vs. Indianapolis Colts, vs. Houston Texans, at Denver Broncos, vs. Green Bay Packers, vs. Minnesota Vikings and at Tennessee Titans.

If Hill is unable to go for the foreseeable future, expect the Chiefs to run the offense through stars Sammy Watkins and Travis Kelce, with rookie Mecole Hardman’s role expanding sooner rather than later. De’Anthony Thomas is due back from suspension next week, but the Chiefs could opt to waive someone else and bring up Cody Thompson from the practice squad.

What we almost assuredly know right now is Hill won’t play against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, but he seems to be in good spirits. Hill tweeted about the team shortly after Rapoport.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid had a short update for the local Kansas City media on his Monday conference call.

“So Tyreek had the dislocation, which he had, and (head trainer and VP) Rick (Burkholder) explained that yesterday,” Reid said. “It was reduced non-surgically. He stayed there (in Jacksonville) overnight, but he’ll be back [Monday]. And then we’ll just have to see when he gets back here how he’s doing and just kind of monitor that here as we go through the week.”

Reid said he’s been in communication with Hill.

“He’s doing good,” Reid added. “He’s glad that the game worked out the way it did. Tyreek’s a big-time team player. I think you guys know that. And so he was very fired up that everybody’s doing OK. He’s also very positive on things, so there are not too many days I’ve seen him down in the dumps. It was that way when I talked to him [Monday]. He had good spirit to him, and he just wants to get back here. He doesn’t want to be in a hospital. He wants to get back and get settled in back here.”

Hardman tweeted to Hill Monday afternoon, “Praying for a speedy recovery brother! I promise I’m hold it down for you,” to which Hill responded, “I know you gone hold it down bro bro !!!”

According to Sam Mellinger of The Kansas City Star, Hill is likely to avoid injured reserve.

Friend-of-the-site Terez Paylor of Yahoo! Sports also weighed in on the IR news.