Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jody Fortson designated to return | KCSN Daily 1.17
Plus first injury report, KCSN podcasts, quotes, transactions and more Chiefs news
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The Chiefs got the practice week underway on Tuesday ahead of their divisional-round matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, Jan. 21. They had some familiar faces returning to practice from injury as things got underway.
According to Chiefs HC Andy Reid, both RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire and TE Jody Fortson have been designated to return from injured reserve. They both practiced in some capacity on Tuesday.
“The other two that I should probably mention to you are Clyde (Edwards-Helaire) and Jody (Fortson) will practice today,” Reid said. “So, we’re going to ease them back in just to see how they do and try to get them back into the swing of things.”
Edwards-Helaire suffered a high ankle sprain in the team’s Week 11 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 12 and was eligible to return in Week 16, but he wasn’t ready to get back on the field during the regular season.
Fortson was placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury ahead of Week 15 against the Texans — making this the earliest possible week he could be designated to return. Blake Bell was activated to the 53-man roster the same week that Fortson was placed on IR.
Remember, players who are designated to return from injured reserve don’t yet count toward the 53-man roster. The team will have a 21-day practice window during which time they can decide whether to activate the player from injured reserve. If that window expires without an activation a player will remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season or in this case the postseason.
KC Laboratory - Are Chiefs AFC title favorites following the wild-card round?
KCSN’s Kent Swanson, Craig Stout, and Matt Lane break down the AFC playoff field and the remaining teams left as well as take some live questions.
Tuesday Injury Report:
Chiefs:
DNP: WR Mecole Hardman (Pelvis).
LP: DE Frank Clark (Groin).
FP: CB L’Jarius Sneed (Hip) and WR Skyy Moore (Hand).
Jaguars
DNP: OL Brandon Scherff (Abdomen) and LS Ross Matiscik (Back).
LP: QB Trevor Lawrence (Toe), WR Kendric Pryor (Shoulder), WR Jamal Agnew (Shoulder), OL Luke Fortner (Back)
FP: None.
Key:
DNP (Did Not Participate), LP (Limited Participant), FP (Full Participant), NIR (Not Injury Related).
Notes:
The Chiefs are not required to report the practice status of Clyde Edwards-Helaire or Jody Fortson until they’ve been activated to the 53-man roster.
(Photo via NFL)
Remember, vote for Kansas City Chiefs 2022 NFL Fan of the Year Nominee Dr. Amy Patel. You can vote multiple times until polls close on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Click the image above to listen to KCSN’s BJ Kissel exclusive interview with Dr. Patel.
Other Transactions:
1/17 - Signed to practice squad - WR Jerrion Ealy
1/17 - Contract terminated from practice squad - DE Daniel Wise
KCSN Update:
KCSN’s BJ Kissel sits down with The Athletic's Nate Taylor to ask him his 5 Burning Questions prior to the Kansas City Chiefs AFC Divisional round matchup vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Quotable:
“Yeah, that's tough. When you throw three interceptions, especially in the first half of it – or four interceptions, especially if it's in the first half – even if it's your fault or not, that kind of can seep into your mind. ‘Man, like what decisions am I going to make going forward? Do I protect it, or do I stay aggressive?’ But he battled through. That's a true test of a competitor, that whenever stuff's not going your way, to still pull your team to find a way to win and he's done it at every level – high school, college and now, in the NFL. He's taking that team and they've turned it around fast. So, he's a great competitor, and we understand it’ll be a great challenge. And they have a great football team that's been playing playoff football for like over a month now. So, they understand what it takes to win, and we have to go out there and do whatever we can to win.” - Patrick Mahomes on Jags QB Trevor Lawrence’s performance in the wild-card round
“Yeah, he does, and we do. You just want to try not to take steps back – it’s not that we’re taking steps back, it’s just that it’s not getting (to) where it needs to be to where he can go. So, our feeling is if we just back off on it and let it rest a little bit here and do his rehab, he has a chance to be better. He doesn’t want to, and we don’t want to put him out there in a bad situation where he can’t play.” - On the optimism that Mecole Hardman will play again this season
Quick Hits:
From KCSN: Don’t forget that KCSN has a raffle for tickets to Saturday’s game at Arrowhead going on. The drawing is set for Wednesday night, so be sure to get your entries!
From Fox 4 KC: A quick look-in at practice on Tuesday from Fox 4’s Harold R. Kuntz. You’ll see Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jody Fortson back on the field and warming up with their teammates. Fortson has a pretty heavy brace on his elbow.
From the Arrowhead grounds crew: Head groundskeeper Travis Hogan posted an update on the grass growth at Arrowhead Stadium. It should be in tip-top shape for the divisional round.
From the KC Sports Commission: The countdown is on! Only 100 days remain until the 2023 NFL draft in Kansas City.
NFL’s divisional round schedule:
Saturday, Jan 21:
Chiefs vs. Jaguars at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Eagles vs. Giants at 8:15 p.m. ET on FOX
Sunday, Jan 22:
Bills vs. Bengals at 3:00 p.m. ET on CBS
49ers vs. Cowboys at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX
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