The Chiefs finished second in the NFL in sacks in 2022 and were tied for fourth in passes defensed. They also allowed the most passing touchdowns and the second-highest passing touchdown rate in the NFL last year. Four of their projected starters were drafted in 2022; George Karlaftis, Trent McDuffie, Bryan Cook, and Jaylen Watson. If those guys make a Year 2 leap, they could theoretically help Chris Jones make this a top-12 Fantasy DST for a ninth consecutive season. But that depends on Jones ending his holdout and rejoining the team after being placed on the reserved/did not report list. We view them more as a streamer-level option and their Week 1 matchup against the Lions is not appealing.
Fantasy News
Chiefs' Mike Edwards: Warming up as starting safety
Rotowire
Edwards is warming up as the starting free safety for Sunday's game against the Bills with Bryan Cook on injured reserve with an ankle injury, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Edwards has played on 337 defensive snaps in 12 games this season, recording 28 tackles, five passes defensed, an interception and a fumble recovery. The fifth-year pro signed with the Chiefs in the offseason after spending his first four seasons with the Buccaneers.
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Chiefs' Bryan Cook: Lands on IR
Rotowire
The Chiefs placed Cook (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday.
Cook sustained an ankle injury in Week 13 against the Packers. He managed to avoid a fracture but was unable to practice this week and is now set to sit out for at least the next four games while on IR. The earliest Cook can return would be Week 18 against the Chargers on Jan. 7. The 2022 second-round pick has 42 tackles (26 solo), one interception, two forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown through 12 games this season.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Activated off IR
Rotowire
The Chiefs activated Bolton (wrist) from injured reserve Saturday.
Bolton was able to participate in full this week and carried no injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills. He's played just four games this season, as he's missed time with an ankle injury and, most recently, a dislocated wrist that required surgery. Bolton will resume his starting spot at middle linebacker and help bolster a Chiefs defense that ranks fourth in the NFL in yards allowed per game (297.7).
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Chiefs' Bryan Cook: Won't play Week 14
Rotowire
Cook (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
The second-year safety out of Cincinnati was held out of practice all week after suffering an ankle injury in Week 13, so it's no surprise that he'll be inactive Sunday. With Cook missing Week 14, expect veteran Mike Edwards to assume the Chiefs' starting free safety duties.
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Chiefs' Drue Tranquill: Missing Week 14
Rotowire
Tranquill (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
The 28-year-old linebacker suffered a concussion during the Chiefs' Week 13 loss to the Packers, so it's no surprise that he's been ruled out ahead of Sunday's affair. With Tranquill missing time, expect Leo Chenal and Jack Cochrane to see increased work in Kansas City's linebacker corps.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Appears poised to return Sunday
Rotowire
Bolton (wrist) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Bolton remains on injured reserve, but the Chiefs are expected to formally activate him before Saturday's 4 p.m. ET deadline for Week 14 roster moves, per Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com. The standout linebacker has appeared in just four games this season, missing Weeks 3 through 5 with an ankle injury before suffering a dislocated wrist in late October and requiring surgery. He's missed Kansas City's last five games while recovering from the injury, but after returning to practice last week as a limited participant, Bolton proceeded to log three full practices this week to clear up any lingering concern about his health.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Logs full practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Bolton (wrist) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice session.
The Chiefs designated Bolton to return from IR on Nov. 29. It's his first full practice session since being placed on injured reserve Oct. 28. Bolton's chances of returning for Week 14 against the Bills will continue to improve if he's able to participate in practices leading up to the contest.
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Chiefs' Drue Tranquill: Stuck in concussion protocol
Rotowire
Tranquill remains in concussion protocol and won't practice Wednesday.
Tranquill suffered a concussion in Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Packers and is still working through the league's five-step protocol to gain clearance to play. He'll likely need to get back on the field and ultimately log a full practice Thursday or Friday to have a chance to play against the Bills in Week 14.
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Chiefs' Bryan Cook: Not ready for return
Rotowire
Cook (ankle) will not practice Wednesday,
Cook is still being evaluated after suffering what is believed to be a sprained ankle, according to head coach Andy Reid. It's still not clear how much time the second-year pro could miss with the injury and what his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Bills could be.
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Chiefs' Jack Cochrane: Relied on after Tranquill injury
Rotowire
Cochrane recorded seven solo tackles in Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Packers.
After losing linebacker Drue Tranquill (concussion) on the seventh play of the game, the Chiefs relied heavily on Cochrane, who recorded a season high in defensive snaps (56) and tackles. The 24-year-old should see another uptick in playing time if Tranquill fails to clear concussion protocol for Week 14.
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Chiefs' Justin Reid: Tackle leader in loss
Rotowire
Reid made 10 total tackles (nine solo) in Sunday's 27-19 defeat to the Packers.
Although he briefly exited the game due to an injury, Reid still led the team in tackles and was on the field for all but two defensive snaps. The 26-year-old has not been a huge turnover threat (one INT), but he ranks second on the Chiefs' defense in both total tackles and pass deflections.
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Chiefs' Mike Danna: One sack in loss
Rotowire
Danna recorded four tackles and one sack in Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Packers.
Danna recorded his first game with four or more tackles since Week 7 and came up with a big sack in the fourth quarter to force a Packers field-goal attempt. The 26-year-old played in 38 defensive snaps, which was fewer than both George Karlaftis (48) and Charles Omenihu (44). Danna has now compiled a career-high 6.5 sacks and 39 tackles on the season, but recently has been in a three-man rotation with Karlaftis and Omenihu, which should be monitored by IDP managers in the upcoming weeks.
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Chiefs' Bryan Cook: Avoids fracture
Rotowire
Cook's X-ray came back negative after he suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's loss to the Packers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Cook was unable to return to the game after suffering the injury and needing to be carted off the field. He'll undergo further testing and evaluation Monday to determine the severity of the damage done to his ankle, but it appears for now the second-year safety has avoided a significant injury.
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Chiefs' Bryan Cook: Won't return in Green Bay
Rotowire
Cook (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Packers.
This news comes as no surprise after Cook was carted off in the third quarter. He was originally deemed questionable to return but has subsequently been downgraded to out. Cook's next chance to play will come in Week 14 against the Bills.
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Chiefs' Bryan Cook: Hurts ankle on SNF
Rotowire
Cook (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Packers.
Cook was carted off after suffering what looked like a gruesome ankle injury at first glance. It's encouraging that the safety wasn't immediately ruled out, but it would be surprising if Cook managed to return Sunday. With Cook hurt, Mike Edwards will likely take on a larger role.
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Chiefs' Drue Tranquill: Suffers concussion on SNF
Rotowire
Tranquill (concussion) won't return to Sunday's game against the Packers.
Tranquill left early in the first quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. Tests confirmed the concussion, so he has been ruled out for the remainder of the game. Tranquill will need to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol in order to play in Week 14 against the Bills.
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Chiefs' Drue Tranquill: Being evaluated for concussion
Rotowire
Tranquill is being evaluated for a concussion Sunday against the Packers.
Tranquill left the game on the opening series and headed to the locker room, where he is being evaluated for a concussion. Jack Cochrane is likely to see additional playing time for the duration of Tranquill's absence.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Staying on IR through Week 13
Rotowire
Bolton (wrist) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday night's game against the Packers.
The third-year linebacker was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday, but it seems as if he's not ready for in-game action just yet. Bolton was able to log a week of limited practice sessions, bit he's in line to miss his fifth consecutive game Sunday. Leo Chenal and Darius Harris should continue seeing increased work in Kansas City's linebacker corps until Bolton is ready to return to the field.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: On practice field Wednesday
Rotowire
The Chiefs designated Bolton (wrist) for return from their injured reserve list Wednesday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Kansas City now has 21 days to officially activate Bolton from its injured reserve list before it would have to shut him down for the remainder of the season. The Chiefs' injury reports over the week will shed light on whether he'll be available for Week 13 at Green Bay.
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Chiefs' George Karlaftis: Logs another sack in win
Rotowire
Karlaftis recorded three total tackles (all solo), including one sack and one tackle for loss in Sunday's 31-17 win over the Raiders.
The 2022 first-round pick has now recorded 8.0 sacks through Kansas City's first 11 games, overtaking Chris Jones as the team's leader in that category. Karlaftis started all 17 games for the Chiefs during his rookie season, and he's already bested his 2022 totals in sacks, tackles and forced fumbles thus far. The 22-year-old seems like a budding star, and he's expected to continue wreaking havoc for Kansas City's defense for the remainder of the season.
