AFC Injury Updates: Chiefs, Dolphins, Sadiq, Downs

A week ago, the Chiefs saw their wide receiving corps take a hit when rookie fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen suffered a lower leg injury and third-year talent Xavier Worthy left practice early after landing hard on his right shoulder, per ESPN’s Nate Taylor. Allen escaped the worst-case scenarios, getting diagnosed with a shin bruise and returning to practice in a limited capacity.

Worthy’s injury is a bit more troublesome, after he required surgery on the same shoulder this offseason following a late-season collision on a crossing route with tight end Travis Kelce. Allen has impressed so far in his short time in Kansas City and has been working his way up the depth chart as another Chiefs late-round surprise. Some reports called Worthy’s injury a strain. Though it’s considered a minor issue, he didn’t participate in most practices this week.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the AFC:

• On the defensive side of the ball in Kansas City, the Chiefs placed second-year undrafted pass rusher Ethan Downs on IR at the end of July. A former teammate of second-round rookie pass rusher R Mason Thomas, Downs was thought to have a decent shot at a depth spot on the roster, but a torn ACL in is left knee will end his season, according to Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com. Taylor added that Downs underwent surgery the day after his injury to repair the torn ligament.
• As they prepared to transition to training camp, the Dolphins provided some updates on when certain players might be healthy, per Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. For starters, starting right tackle Austin Jackson was cleared to participate in training camp, but rookie third-round receiver Chris Bell and cornerbacks Storm Duck and Darrell Baker likely won’t be cleared before the regular season. The Louisville rookie is reportedly “in a good spot,” despite his current placement on the active/non-football injury list, but the team doesn’t have a timetable for his return. Duck and Baker are likely to remain out until sometime midseason. This week, Louis-Jacques added that safety Lonnie Johnson would miss some time after leaving practice with a lower body injury, and undrafted rookie defensive tackle Rene Konga — placed on IR on Wednesday — will miss the entire season.
• After recent news that Jets first-round rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq would undergo a minor procedure, head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters he’s “very confident” Sadiq will be ready for Week 1, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. Additionally, Brian Costello of the New York Post reported today that seventh-round rookie safety VJ Payne would be out three to four weeks with a bone bruise.
• Lastly, according to Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star, Colts wide receiver Josh Downs is dealing with a groin injury. He isn’t practice today and is danger of missing more as Indianapolis continues to work without newly extended wideout Alec Pierce — placed on the active/physically unable to perform list in July.