PLAYER NOTES
–WR Sammy Watkins underwent an MRI for his injured right foot, however the results did not indicate any major damage. Head coach Andy Reid described his status as day-to-day, but the club held him out of practice on Wednesday. His status for the team’s Week 10 matchup against Arizona remains uncertain.
–LB Justin Houston practiced on a limited basis Wednesday as he returns from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the lineup the last four weeks. Head coach Andy Reid said how well Houston handles practice this week would determine his availability for Sunday’s game against Arizona.
–LG Cam Erving did not practice on Wednesday with an illness.
–LB Anthony Hitchens received a day off from practice Wednesday as he continues recovering from bruised ribs sustained against Denver in Week 8. Hitchens played through the injury on Sunday against Cleveland and appears likely to play this week against Arizona barring a setback.
–S Daniel Sorensen practiced in a limited role on Wednesday, his first official practice since being designated to return from injured reserve on Tuesday. Sorensen appears likely to see some playing time this week against Cleveland, but head coach Andy Reid wouldn’t commit to how much he might play in his first game back.
–C Mitch Morse remains in the league’s concussion protocol and will likely miss his fourth straight game. Head coach Andy Reid said Morse continues dealing with symptoms from the concussion he suffered in Week 6 against New England. The team has no timetable for his return.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Spencer Ware. The backup to Kareem Hunt illustrated his value once again for the Chiefs in Sunday’s 37-21 victory over the Browns, rushing twice for 12 yards and picking up another 69 yards on four catches. Ware appears fully recovered from the knee injury that wiped out his 2017 campaign, and his contributions are allowing the Chiefs to provide a breather for Hunt, helping to keep him fresher as the season progresses.
GAME PLAN: The Chiefs offense remains a broken record – score early, score often, score as much as needed and then close out the game. This game might pose a challenge, however, as the Cardinals stand up well against the pass, allowing just 224.6 yards per game. Much of that, of course, stems from teams building quick leads on the Cardinals and pounding away on the ground. Arizona ranks 31st against the run, allowing an average of 143 yards per game. But the Chiefs pass first and run later, and much of their passing game – short slants and screens, for example – serve merely as an extension of their run game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes might face a challenge in extending his 300-yard passing streak to nine games. That would tie the record reached by Drew Brees (twice), and don’t be surprised if the Chiefs let Mahomes chase it.
Defensively, the Chiefs want to see a more aggressive pass rush than they mustered last week against another member of the 2018 rookie quarterback class in Baker Mayfield. This week Josh Rosen drops back in the pocket, and the Chiefs want to put pressure on the young passer and create sacks and turnover opportunities. The Kansas City defense doesn’t mind giving up yards, but it wants to attack an offense that allows almost three sacks per game and ranks 28th in the league in protecting the football with 2.1 turnovers per contest.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Chiefs TE Travis Kelce vs. Cardinals pass defense. The Arizona defense varies responsibility for the tight end, and with Patrick Peterson expected to tangle with Tyreek Hill, that makes Kelce the key man for the Cardinals to slow down. Kelce posted 741 yards receiving with six touchdowns through the first nine games, and is on pace to easily surpass his career bests. With Sammy Watkins limited and possibly out with a foot injury, Kelce is the key to making the passing attack remain on target.
–Cardinals RB David Johnson vs Chiefs ILBs. Johnson has battled injuries and struggled to find his groove this season, but the Chiefs have been susceptible on the ground and to backs in the passing game. Rookie Daniel O’Dorian may be asked to help starter Anthony Hitchens make sure Johnson can’t find space up the middle to get the ball and break tackles.