Swag Surfin’ at Mr. D’s before the Chiefs vs Ravens AFC Championship
28 January 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — The Kansas City Chiefs are officially without several key players in the AFC Championship.
Linebacker Willie Gay has been ruled inactive against the Ravens with a neck injury.
During the week, head coach Andy Reid said Gay couldn’t turn his neck but he was feeling better. Gay missed Friday’s practice but practiced on Wednesday and Thursday in a limited capacity.
The linebacker has 58 tackles and four pass deflections this season.
Veteran LB Drue Tranquill will eat up his snaps if he can’t play with his 78 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season. Practice squad LB Darius Harris was also promoted to the active roster and is active for the game.
The Chiefs are also without All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney (pec), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (tricep), wide receivers Kadarius Toney (hip/personal), Skyy Moore (knee, IR) and backup offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho (quad, IR) who have been ruled out of the game with injuries.
Veteran backup Nick Allegretti will step in for Thuney as he did in the AFC Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills. This is Allegretti’s fifth season with the team since the Chiefs drafted him in the seventh round in 2019 and he has played over 1,100 offensive snaps during his time.
“Allegretti is a guy that has started for us for a number of games,” head coach Andy Reid said this week.
“All of the guys look at him like he’s a starter, so everybody’s got confidence that he can come in and do a nice job, tough kid. Not everything is the prettiest thing that you’ve ever seen, but he’s going to fight you right to the end and he’s smart, good combination.”
Thuney left the Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills early with a pec strain but the Chiefs hope he can recover enough in time for the Super Bowl if they beat the Ravens.
Toney welcomed his first child—a baby girl—into the world on Saturday, according to NFL insider James Palmer, which explains his personal” designation.
Safety Mike Edwards and running back Isiah Pacheco (toe) were ruled questionable for the game but are active and will play.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.