Chiefs face injuries ahead of Seattle game as legal news emerges
Kansas City deals with multiple player absences for its upcoming primetime matchup while legal developments unfold elsewhere.
The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for a challenging Sunday Night Football matchup against the Seattle Seahawks while managing a severely depleted roster due to injuries. Head coach Andy Reid announced on Friday that wide receiver Rashee Rice and right tackle Jaylon Moore will both miss the game.
Rice is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Moore remains in the concussion protocol. The team is already missing wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, who has been on injured reserve since suffering a dislocated ankle in Week 4. Additionally, left tackle Josh Simmons was placed on injured reserve after his rehabilitation plateaued.
In the absence of Moore, veteran offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu is projected to start at right tackle after stepping in during last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson is expected to continue filling in at left tackle for the foreseeable future.
To compensate for the loss of Rice in the passing game, the Chiefs leaned heavily on Xavier Worthy last week. Worthy played 84 percent of the offensive snaps, catching all seven of his targets for 73 yards. Other contributors included rookie Cyrus Allen, second-year receiver Jalen Royals, and Andrew Armstrong.
In another roster adjustment, Reid revealed that running back Brashard Smith sustained a hamstring injury on Thursday and will miss Sunday's contest. With Smith unavailable, rookie practice squad running back Jaydn Ott is set to receive a call-up to step into the rotation.
In separate developments unrelated to the football team, federal legal proceedings involve an individual with a matching surname. Daniel Ott, a 41-year-old former middle school assistant principal in the Francis Howell School District, appeared in court in St. Louis and pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of receiving child pornography.
The federal indictment accuses Daniel Ott of receiving files containing child sexual abuse material between September 1, 2024, and September 3, 2026. A co-defendant, Juan C. Valencia, was indicted on a related charge of distributing child pornography and also entered a not guilty plea. Both charges carry potential prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years.