Chris Conley – Noteworthy – Injury
WR Chris Conley briefly left the game with a right ankle injury after getting tangled up with cornerback K’Waun Williams on a throw to the end zone. Williams drew a defensive pass interference flag on the play. Athletic trainers rewrapped both of Conley’s ankles, and he later reentered the game. On the next drive, Conley hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass. He credited the team’s training staff for getting him ready.
Dee Ford – Noteworthy – Injury
LB Dee Ford left Sunday’s 38-27 win over the San Francisco 49ers with a groin injury and will undergo further examination on Monday, head coach Andy Reid said following the game.
“He strained his groin, and we’ll just see how he does in the next day or so,” Reid said. “He’ll have an MRI tomorrow, and then we’ll go from there.”
Ford appeared in good spirits in the locker room following the game but did not speak to reporters. The fifth-year veteran picked up his second sack of the season against the 49ers, and is tied for the team lead with Justin Houston and Allen Bailey.
Kareem Hunt – Noteworthy
RB Kareem Hunt rattled off his first two rushing touchdowns of the season in the first quarter, and while his rushing numbers remain well off his prolific 2017 pace as a rookie, that’s OK with Hunt.
“I feel like we are getting it going all around,” Hunt said. “The pass game can’t be stopped. It makes my job easier and a more chill day for me.”
Hunt has 52 carries on the season for 168 yards, a meager 3.2 yards per carry. At this point last season, Hunt had 47 carries for 401 yards and four touchdowns.
But this year the Chiefs have deployed Hunt in a different fashion. He has just 19 carries for 71 yards in the first half of games, but has 22 carries for 65 yards in the fourth quarter. The club has primarily used Hunt as a closer to ground games late with the Chiefs ahead.
“We know how good Kareem is and have a lot of trust in him,” Reid said. “He will get you yards, it’s positive yards. We are always trying to get him going.”
Patrick Mahomes – Noteworthy
QB Patrick Mahomes continued his record-setting start to his season with three more touchdown passes in leading the 3-0 Chiefs to a 38-27 win over the San Francisco 49ers in their home opener Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
“These guys that I have at the receiver position can really get open,” Mahomes said. “It’s hard for teams to have to play every single one of them, so I know if I get through my reads, there will be someone open.”
Mahomes brought his touchdown total to 13 on the season. That eclipses the record of 12 touchdown passes through the first three games of a season set by Peyton Manning in 2013. Mahomes also owns the most touchdown passes by a player in the first four games in a career since at least 1950. His 13 touchdowns in four games going back to last season bests the mark of 12 reached by Washington quarterback Mark Rypien in 1988.
Mahomes completed 24-of-38 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Mahomes delivered completions to nine different receivers, with tight end Travis Kelce leading the way with eight catches for 114 yards. The Chiefs piled up 35 points before halftime, tied for the fourth-most first-half points in franchise history.
“It speaks to the guys that we have,” said Mahomes, who has completed touchdown passes to nine different receivers on the season. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan holds the NFL record in a season with 13 different receivers scoring touchdowns in 2016.