Wide receiver Donnie Avery has started two of the first four games for the Chiefs this season, but they’ll have to look elsewhere for the next few weeks.
Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star reports that Avery is headed to Philadelphia to have sports hernia surgery. It’s not clear exactly how much time Avery will miss, but such surgeries typically keep players out for multiple weeks.
Avery has been targeted more than anyone on the team other than tight end Travis Kelce through the first four weeks, so there will be some work to spread around among the remaining receivers. Frankie Hammond and A.J. Jenkins, who will join quarterback Alex Smith this weekend in facing the 49ers team that made them first-round picks, are the likeliest beneficiaries of Avery’s absence. Rookie De’Anthony Thomas has also started ramping up his work in practice after missing the first four games with a hamstring injury, so the Chiefs have a few different ways to go.