Getty Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr.
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. suffered a tailbone injury during Kansas City’s 24-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 9. But according to head coach Andy Reid, the injury won’t force Gay onto injured reserve.
“Nah, I don’t think so, but, you know, we’ll see,” Reid said when asked during his November 1 press conference if Gay is an IR candidate. “I don’t want to give you a yay or nay, but he’s making progress right now, which is a good thing.”
It’s also worth noting that Reid said Gay wouldn’t practice on Wednesday.
Gay already progressing just days after suffering the injury is great news for a Chiefs linebacker room that has had its fair share of injuries this season. Third-year linebacker Nick Bolton is currently on injured reserve after undergoing wrist surgery during Week 8 preparation. Though Drue Tranquill has filled in admirably when Bolton has been sidelined this season, another injury to the linebacker room would cause a serious void on the defense.
Chiefs Owner Talks KC-MIA Germany Game
In Week 9, the Chiefs will embark on an international trip to face the Miami Dolphins in Germany. Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt discussed the significance of playing an NFL game in Germany during his press conference on October 31.
“This is a very important initiative for the NFL and that really goes back to the ‘90s when the NFL was supporting NFL Europe. Germany was one of the best markets in terms of support for NFL Europe and I think that helped cultivate the fan base there. From a long-term perspective for the League, it’s important for the Chiefs to grow the brand on an international basis. “There are only so many fans that can be had in North America. I think we are seeing it with other professional sports, both in the U.S. and in Europe, everybody is focused on growing their global fan base. It’s something that is much easier to do now because of social media, because of the digital delivery of games. It’s only something I think you’ll see grow, not only for the Chiefs and the National Football League, but for the other sports in the U.S. as well.”
Clark Hunt Discusses Tyreek Hill
The Chiefs-Dolphins game in Week 9 will be the first time that Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill will face Kansas City since the team traded him to Miami in March 2022. Looking back at the trade — which gave the Chiefs five draft picks in exchange for Hill, who received a $120 million extension from the Dolphins after the trade — Clark Hunt believes the move worked out well for all parties involved.