Two key stand-ins need to step up for Chiefs this weekend

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When the Kansas City Chiefs lost 27-19 to the Green Bay Packers, it wasn’t just a blow on the scoreboard.

Two critical components to their success on offense and defense went down, while the status of each remains questionable this weekend.

Drue Tranquill leads all KC players in tackles this season with 73, while Isiah Pacheco is coming off a 110-yard rushing game at Lambeau Field.

Both are significant question marks for Sunday’s tilt with the Buffalo Bills, with Tranquill leaving their previous game with a concussion, while Pacheco hasn’t practised this week because of a shoulder contusion.

Safety Bryan Cook meanwhile also didn’t practice on Tuesday or Wednesday because of an ankle sprain, while Donovan Smith is dealing with a stinger.

It’s a massive concern for Andy Reid whose team is seeking to claim the #1 overall seed in the AFC and a bye into the Divisional Round.

As a result, we may see our share of KC players on the field who haven’t featured in a while.

There’s a lot of work to do if the Chiefs are to catch the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins for the top seed, trailing each by a single game starting on Sunday.

KC Reinforcements?

If Tranquill and Pacheco can’t go on Sunday, it isn’t necessarily all doom and gloom.

The Chiefs got favourable news this week with Nick Bolton participating in full practice drills.

Bolton hasn’t played in weeks after dislocating his wrist but was stellar for them in the early portion of the season.

In just four games, he made 28 tackles, had an interception, and seemed to be trending towards an impressive campaign.

Given how seriously the league takes concussions, it would seem doubtful that we’d see Tranquill against Buffalo.

That’s a lot of versatility that’d be missing from Steve Spagnuolo defense, though Bolton would be the ideal replacement.

He’d need to shake off some rust, of course, should he feature, but given what’s at stake and what Bolton brings to the table, it’s probably a risk Reid’s willing to take.

As for Pacheco, with the passing attack inconsistent, his angry running has been relied upon to put Patrick Mahomes and company in more manageable second and third-down situations.

If he’s unavailable, then a lot may be on the shoulders of Jerrick McKinnon.

McKinnon’s seen very little out of the backfield in 2023, carrying the ball 13 times for 30 yards, a 2.3-yard average.

In his two-plus season with the Chiefs, he’s not had more than 17 carries in a single campaign.

Nonetheless, he had four yards per carry in limited action last season and has plenty of experience, currently in his eighth NFL season.

It’s a big ask for him to shoulder Pacheco’s load, but if he can pick up a few positive gains now and again, the offense might be ok.

Meanwhile, Bolton has proven he can step it up, and if he can go and Tranquill can’t, the Chiefs won’t lose as much in that department as one may think.