While the Kansas City Chiefs may wait a day before going back outside for practice, recent snowfall isn't stopping them from getting some work in with a Wild Card matchup against the Miami Dolphins on their minds.
On Tuesday, the Chiefs are in the thick of preparations for their first playoff game of 2024. With a bit of an accelerated timeline for a Saturday outing, every hour of available time is critical. That applies to film work, practice time and injury recovery, with the latter certainly playing a role in how the week unfolds.
Taking the podium and speaking to the media on Tuesday morning, head coach Andy Reid provided an update on a multitude of injury developments for his team.
Left tackle situation with Wanya Morris, Donovan Smith still developing
In the Chiefs' Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, rookie left tackle Wanya Morris was one of the players who exited the game early with an injury. The third-round pick was ruled out with a concussion, promptly placing him in the NFL's mandated protocol right away. Morris, per Reid, is one of two Kansas City players who isn't expected to practice on Tuesday. With just a handful of days for Morris to pass through return-to-play protocol, it remains unclear whether he'll be available to play on Saturday.
Luckily for the team, it appears that veteran Donovan Smith could be ready to make his return against the Dolphins. Smith, who was signed during the offseason and started 12 consecutive games at left tackle before suffering an injury, has been working his way back from a neck stinger. Morris started Weeks 14-18 in his absence, with Smith participating fully in last Wednesday's practice before missing Thursday and Friday. Smith was inactive for Week 18, but Reid said barring a setback, "he should be fine for the game." That would be a massive break in the right direction for the Chiefs.
Progress for wide receivers Justyn Ross, Kadarius Toney being monitored
Wideout Justyn Ross is the other Chief who isn't expected to participate in Tuesday's practice. The second-year man hauled in two passes on four targets for 17 yards on Sunday before exiting with a hamstring injury. Reid describes the injury for Ross, who played a career-high 38 offensive snaps in Week 18, as a strain. The team will monitor his progress this week.
Elsewhere in the receiver room, Kadarius Toney should be back at practice on Tuesday. There was initial optimism that Toney would return for the regular-season finale, although he went from a limited participant in Wednesday's practice to a non-participant for the rest of the week. Reid confirmed a bit of a setback; how Toney responds to getting back to work will help determine his potential availability for this weekend. The former first-round pick has missed three straight contests with ankle and hip ailments.
Updates on injured reserve players Bryan Cook, Skyy Moore
As the postseason soon begins, the Chiefs have a pair of second-year players sitting on the injured reserve list. Safety Bryan Cook, who suffered a scary-looking ankle injury in a Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, is one of them. While he avoided the worst-case scenario with his injury and is now eligible to be designated to get back to practice, Reid estimated it would "probably be a tough return" for him to play this postseason.
Wide receiver Skyy Moore, placed on IR in mid-December with a knee injury, has a more promising outlook. While Moore does have to miss the Chiefs' first playoff game before being eligible to return to practice, Reid said he's "on track" and "doing a great job" with his ongoing recovery. Should Kansas City advance past Miami in the postseason, perhaps Moore has a respectable chance to play in the future.
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