Chiefs-Saints inactives: Eric Fisher will play; Brees in, Winston out

The Kansas City Chiefs have released their inactives list for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Left tackle Eric Fisher will be active for the game.

Fisher missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday with what head coach Andy Reid described as a “tight back,” but practiced fully on Friday. He was listed as questionable in Friday’s final injury report.

Reid used the same phrase to describe the injury to offensive lineman Mike Remmers. The ninth-year veteran — who has been filling in for right tackle Mitchell Schwartz since he left the Week 6 game against the Buffalo Bills with a back injury — missed all of this week’s practices. Listed as doubtful on Friday, Remmers was downgraded to out on Saturday.

We expect that undrafted rookie Yasir Durant — who played in Remmers’ place for much of the Week 14 game against the Miami Dolphins — will start in his place. But we could also see Martinas Rankin or even veteran Stefen Wisniewski — the latter moved from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday — somewhere in the mix. Rankin has been healthy — but inactive — during the last two weeks.

Linebacker Damien Wilson (knee) didn’t practice all week. Listed as out on Friday, he’ll miss his second game with this injury. Expect to see Ben Niemann and rookie Willie Gay Jr. getting more playing time.

Running back Darwin Thompson (illness) was also listed as out. He has been sick since Thursday. Tight end Ricky Seals-Jones missed Thursday’s practice with an illness, but practiced fully on Friday. He — and the rest of the Chiefs players on Sunday’s inactives list — should be considered healthy scratches for the Saints game.

Wide receiver Bryon Pringle — who has missed three games with an ankle injury — was activated from injured reserve on Saturday. He is active for the game. Also available will be two practice-squad players: cornerback DeAndre Baker and liebacker Emmanuel Smith. Both were given one-game elevations to the active roster on Saturday and are active for the Saints game.. They will automatically revert to the practice squad on Monday.

The Saints have also released their list of inactives for the game. The big headline is that quarterback Drew Brees will be available for the game — and will likely start.

Brees has been practicing all week, but was still on injured reserve after missing four games with broken ribs and a punctured lung. On Friday, news broke that he was expected to start against the Chiefs. The team officially activated him to the active roster on Saturday, opening the way for him to play. The team will only have Taysom Hill available to step in. On Saturday, the Saints released backup quarterback Trevor Simien — and on Sunday, backup quarterback Jameis Winston was placed on the reserve/COVID list.

Brees’ best receiving target will miss the game. Wide receiver Michael Thomas (ankle) missed all of the Saints’ practices this week. Previously listed as out, Thomas was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Wide receiver (and return specialist) Deonte Harris (neck) missed practice on Wednesday and was limited in Thursday and Friday’s practices. He had been listed as questionable, but was also placed on injured reserve on Saturday.

Starting right guard Nick Easton (concussion) will miss the game, too. He was absent from all practices this week and had already been declared out. The Saints are expected to start rookie Cesar Ruiz in his place.

Defensive lineman Malcolm Brown (shoulder/calf) had also been declared out after missing practice all week.

The rest of the New Orleans inactives should be considered healthy scratches.

They Saints signed three players from their practice squad to their roster on Saturday: center Will Clapp, wide receiver Juwan Johnson and wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. All are active against the Chiefs.