Chiefs Rule Out McKinnon, Elevate Prince for Week 13

The Chiefs have ruled out RB Jerick McKinnon (groin) for Sunday's game.

Additionally, the club has elevated RB Deneric Prince via Standard Elevation.

This marks the second game in a row that McKinnon has missed. A lingering groin issue has bothered him for weeks on end, and Reid said earlier this week that it was "at the point where he was going to have a hard time working at the level he wants to" as a result. In 10 games played this season, the 31-year-old has 13 carries for 30 yards and 19 receptions on 26 targets for 155 yards and three touchdowns. 

Prince, who signed with the Chiefs after going unpicked in the 2023 NFL Draft, hasn't logged a single regular-season snap. He stood out during the preseason but didn't break camp with the team on its initial 53-man roster. The former Tulsa standout capped off his college career with 126 rushes for 729 yards and five touchdowns, adding another score in the passing game in his final season. His stellar pre-draft process — fueled by a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and a 10'4" broad jump — was enough to land him a spot in Kansas City.

It's unlikely that Prince will play a significant role in McKinnon's absence. In Week 12, starting running back Isiah Pacheco played 47 snaps, which was good for 78% of those available. Clyde Edwards-Helaire's 12 snaps (20%) and La'Mical Perine's one snap (2%) made up the rest of the group. The Chiefs are likely to lean on Pacheco again this week, although don't rule out a potentially increased workload for Edwards-Helaire. In either event, Prince's elevation simply serves as some added depth until McKinnon can return.