The Kansas City Chiefs are ready for the return of two key offensive rookies

When the Kansas City Chiefs play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, they will have two important offensive players back.

The Green Bay Packers will test the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, but they won’t be quite at full strength. However, considering the team’s remarks on Nick Bolton’s injury status, the reigning Super Bowl winners might have their whole roster ready when the season’s final stretch starts the following week.

The Chiefs’ outstanding middle linebacker, Chris Bolton, will not play against the Packers in Week 13 as Kansas City takes extra care in his comeback from a dislocated left wrist. Despite his prolonged absence, he is scheduled to play December 10th at home against the Buffalo Bills. In the meanwhile, the Chiefs will have two important players return to Lambeau Field.

“The Chiefs said they’ll likely hold off on signing LB Nick Bolton for a week. The rest of the team, which includes wide receiver Kadarius Toney and running back Jerick McKinnon, is anticipated to play against the Packers, according to a tweet from Arrowhead Pride’s Pete Sweeney on Friday morning.

Assessing Chiefs’ returns and absences vs. Packers

Although Bolton is the most prominent player listed on the official injury report, Kansas City’s defense is still strong enough to succeed without him. Drue Tranquill, an offseason addition, has already replaced Bolton seven times this season as the Chiefs’ defense—which has significantly improved—as defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s top middle linebacker and defensive play-caller.

Tranquill isn’t as good against the run as Bolton, but he’s quietly become one of the NFL’s greatest cover linebackers and isn’t hesitant to use his strength as a blitzer and in the run game. With a team-high 71 tackles, six tackles for loss, three and a half sacks, and two forced fumbles going into Week 13, Tranquill is a dangerous player.

Toney’s return to action following hip and ankle problems is encouraging for the offensive unit, which last week against the Las Vegas Raiders helped them regain some momentum. Expected to be the top receiver for quarterback Patrick Mahomes coming into training camp, he has fallen short of those astronomically high expectations this season, largely functioning as a gadget player in spite of Kansas City’s well-documented difficulties at wide out. With an average of just 6.3 yards per reception, Toney has 22 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Additionally, McKinnon’s contribution to the Chiefs’ offense has been less than anticipated. Despite playing the entire practice on Friday, he has a groin ailment that is officially labeled as questionable on the injury report.

The 31-year-old veteran is a dangerous receiver out of the backfield and an extremely dependable pass blocker. Over the past two seasons, he has been a crucial but easily underappreciated part of Kansas City’s attack. The Chiefs are happy to keep McKinnon as fresh as possible in anticipation of a potential Super Bowl run, so don’t be shocked if Clyde Edwards-Helaire and primary back Isaiah Pacheco see some third-down reps in McKinnon’s place against the Packers.

To stay ahead of the 9-3 Baltimore Ravens and secure home-field advantage for the duration of the AFC playoffs, Kansas City, now at 8-3, needs to win. At 5:20 p.m. (PT), the Chiefs and Packers, who have won two straight games to reclaim their spot in the NFC wild card race, take the field at Lambeau Field.