The Kansas City Chiefs suffered the loss of key offensive players to serious injuries early in the 2024 NFL season, yet Patrick Mahomes and company remain undefeated after five weeks. Needless to say, Andy Reid couldn’t be prouder.
Speaking to reporters after the Chiefs‘ win over the New Orleans Saints on ‘Monday Night Football,’ Reid delivered a special message to his players for stepping up with key teammates on the sidelines.
“They don’t flinch on all that stuff,” Reid said of the players’ reaction to the string of injuries, via Arrowhead Pride. “They know it’s the next guy up, and he goes. I’m proud of them for that. There’s an attitude in the locker room, and it has to start with that group there. They just know they can trust that the next guy is going to come in and do a good job.”
The Chiefs’ injury woes started in the first game of preaseason, with free agency acquisition Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown suffering a sternoclavicular joint dislocation that eventually sent him to Injured Reserve.
Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs against the Miami Dolphins at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 13, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The injuries started to pile up in the 2024 NFL regular season, with starting running back Isiah Pacheco picking up a fractured fibula in Week 2 before Mahomes accidentally injured Rashee Rice in Week 4. Even so, the Chiefs have been resilient, which makes Reid very proud.
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Kareem Hunt, JuJu Smith-Schuster credit their success to Reid
The first big challenge for Reid after Brown’s injury was the loss of Pacheco, who was placed on IR after the second week. The Chiefs found a way to replace their starting running back with the promotion of Carson Steele and Samaje Perine, but especially with the return of Kareem Hunt.
The 29-year-old was key in the win over the Chargers in Week 4 before playing an even bigger role in the Week 5 victory over the Saints, but he gives all the credit to the coach: “I’m having a blast out there. It’s so much fun, and I missed it so much. Coach Reid does a great job of putting us in situations to be successful.”
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At wide receiver, the Chiefs have also faced challenges. With Brown out, Mahomes’ attention switched to Rice until the second-year wideout got injured. But instead of exploring the market, Reid made it clear to Mahomes he trusted in the in-house options, and it seemed to pay off.
On Monday, veteran WR JuJu Smith-Schuster led the team with 130 yards in seven catches, but he also credited Reid for his production: “Coach knows how to put guys in position. He knows how to use their strengths on the field and capitalize on them.”
