Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain after getting hurt in last Saturday’s rout of the Texans and he’ll start the practice week on the sideline as he tries to get well enough to play against the Patriots this weekend.
Coach Andy Reid said Tuesday that Maclin is making “good progress” a few days after suffering the injury, but that he would not take part in practice along with the rest of the team. Reid also said that he felt comfortable playing Maclin if he can’t practice at all this week, adding that it’s too soon to know if he’s going to have to make that decision come Saturday.
Given Maclin’s importance to the team, it’s not surprising that Reid would leave the door open as long as possible in hopes that Maclin’s ankle is well enough for him to run through it. It’s hardly a safe bet that he’ll be able to do it with a high ankle sprain, though.
Guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, center Mitch Morse and running backs Spencer Ware are also out of practice on the offensive side of the ball. Morse missed the Wild Card round with a concussion and Duvernay-Tardif suffered one during the game. Ware is dealing with a sprained ankle.
Linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston round out the non-participants for Kansas City. Houston returned from a knee injury against the Texans while Hali has frequently been out of practice after breaking his thumb late in the season.