The Kansas City Chiefs are watching their rookie cornerback, Mansoor Delane, closely as he tries to get his shoulder strong enough to play. Head coach Andy Reid gave fans a mixed update after the team lost to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. While Delane has played well this season, his right shoulder keeps acting up and might be a problem for the rest of the year. The team needs him back, but safety comes first. Reid said on Monday that the rookie could return for the game against the New York Jets, yet he warned that the injury is not going away quickly.
Delane missed the last game against Denver even though he was listed as questionable before the start. The issue started back in the offseason during organized team activities and has troubled him ever since. He aggravated the shoulder during a Week 1 win over the Broncos and sat out the rest of that game plus all of Week 2. He played in four straight games after returning, but the pain flared up again in practice last Wednesday. This forced the Chiefs to rule him out for Sunday’s matchup at Empower Field at Mile High.
A Day-By-Day Battle for Strength
The coaching staff will not rush Delane back until his body is ready. Reid explained that the team will check on him every single day to see how he feels. “It’s just a matter of it being strong enough to get out there,” Reid said. The coach added that there is a chance Delane can play in Week 9, but it depends entirely on how strong the shoulder gets. “There’s a chance that he’ll be able to get himself out there this week. Again, it’s just how strong it is. It’s going to be a day-to-day thing,” Reid told reporters. The first practice of the week on Wednesday will show if he can take the field.
Delane has shown he is a key player when healthy. Yahoo Sports reports that in five games this season, he has posted 27 tackles, five passes defended, and one interception. The team allowed 28 points to Denver, their second-highest total of the season, partly because they were without their rookie star in the secondary. Delane was absent, and the defense allowed Bo Nix and the Broncos offense to score.
Depth Options and Roster Moves
The Chiefs have other options to fill the corner spot while Delane heals. Veteran L’Jarius Sneed is already on injured reserve, which left the team thin in the backfield. Rookie Canady stepped up in Week 8 and made two tackles against Denver, including a big stop in the open field. Chris Roland-Wallace has also played well in the slot, posting 86 tackles and two interceptions over his three years with the team.
To make room for these younger players, the Chiefs cut veteran Kader Kohou from their practice squad on Monday. Kohou had signed a one-year deal in the offseason but never cracked the main roster. “The Chiefs terminated the practice squad contract of CB Kader Kohou,” A to Z Sports’ Charles Goldman wrote on X. This move opens two spots on the practice squad and signals that the team is looking to develop its own young talent rather than rely on older veterans who have not contributed this year.
Looking Ahead to the Jets
The Chiefs will host the New York Jets at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. ET. The team enters this game with a 5-2 record after losing two straight road games. They need to get healthy quickly if they want to stay on top of the AFC West.
