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According to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Kansas City Chiefs have placed second-year linebacker Willie Gay Jr. on their Reserve/Injured list.
From the transaction wire:#Chiefs put LB Willie Gay on IR#Raiders put RB Jalen Richard, LB Nick Morrow, DB Keisean Nixon and DB Javin White on IR#Titans released TE Luke Stocker#49ers released LB Mychal Kendricks off IR#Giants worked out QB Duck Hodges
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 2, 2021
On Monday, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed what had already been rumored: that Gay had suffered a toe injury during the final preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night.
This move means that Gay will miss at least the first three games of the regular season — against the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers.
During his remarks on Wednesday, general manager Brett Veach didn't want to get into the specifics of the injury — deferring those questions to Reid and head trainer Rick Burkholder — but did say the team was prepared for the eventuality that Gay would be unavailable as the season opened.
“Just [want to] make sure we’re not caught short-handed Week 1 one and make sure we have depth at all of these positions,” he told reporters. “Hopefully, it works out — and we’re carrying extra at a certain position — but if not, we’re prepared.”
Linebacker Ben Niemann would be the most likely player to take snaps in Gay’s place — but rookie Nick Bolton could also see some additional action.
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