Chiefs ‘optimistic’ about receiver Jeremy Maclin’s availability Thursday vs. Raiders

Chiefs coach Andy Reid indicated Tuesday that injured receiver Jeremy Maclin, who has missed the last four games because of a lingering groin injury, is looking more likely to play against the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night.

“I know he’s feeling better,” Reid said. “So yeah, we’re optimistic.”

Reid was also asked how the chilly weather — it’s expected to be in the 20s Thursday in Kansas City, and even colder after kickoff — could affect Maclin’s availability.

“If he can go, he can go,” Reid said. “We’ll look at everything, but if we put him out there — or he gets out there — we’ll have all that factored in.”

Maclin, who has missed considerable action this season, has caught 30 passes for 376 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. But while he was a limited participant in practice all of last week and did not play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, he was a full participant in Tuesday’s light practice, along with three other banged-up Chiefs: nose tackle Dontari Poe (back), defensive tackle Kendall Reyes (knee) and cornerback Phillip Gaines (knee).

Raiders injury report

Four Raiders missed practice Tuesday, including defensive tackle Stacy McGee (ankle), defensive tackle Darius Latham (ankle), safety Karl Joseph (toe) and linebacker Shilique Calhoun (knee).

This story was originally published December 6, 2016 at 3:12 PM with the headline "Chiefs ‘optimistic’ about receiver Jeremy Maclin’s availability Thursday vs. Raiders."