‘We’re heading in the right direction there,’ Chiefs’ Andy Reid says of Frank Clark
The Kansas City Chiefs might have a key pass rusher available for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.
Defensive end Frank Clark, who missed the past two days while having his stomach ailment evaluated, was back on the practice field Friday.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Clark has another appointment with a specialist, and Clark’s potential availability for Sunday’s game will likely hinge on the results.
“We’re heading in the right direction there,” Reid said. “We’ll just see how it all works out, but he looked like he moved around pretty good today.”
Clark came down with the illness late last week, but played in Week 14’s 23-16 win over the New England Patriots. While he didn’t start, Clark totaled four tackles and a sack on 31 defensive snaps, which was less than half of the team’s 66 defensive snaps.
While that update on Clark provides the team optimism for Sunday’s game, the news might not be so good for running back Damien Williams — he missed Friday’s practice with an illness in addition to his lingering rib injury.
Reid said Williams’ illness is “milder” than what Clark is dealing with but wouldn’t commit to the running back playing Sunday with two days until kickoff.
“Let’s just see how it goes,” Reid said. “We’ll see how he feels.”
Williams, who was limited Wednesday and Thursday, hasn’t played since Week 11. If Williams can’t play, the Chiefs will lean on LeSean McCoy, Spencer Ware and rookie Darwin Thompson out of the backfield.
The Chiefs officially designated Clark and Williams as questionable on Friday’s injury report, signaling both players have a 50-50 percent chance to play.
Meanwhile, Reid announced that cornerbacks Morris Claiborne (shoulder) and Rashad Fenton (hamstring) are out for Sunday. Claiborne and Fenton will each miss a second consecutive game.
Linebacker Darron Lee returned to practice Friday after missing the past two days with a non-injury designation, which typically signals a personal matter. Starting left guard Andrew Wylie (shoulder) also returned to a full practice after being limited the past two days, while linebacker Anthony Hitchens missed practice with a non-injury designation.
The Chiefs did not attach game designations for Lee, Hitchens and Wylie, meaning they are good to go.
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 1:36 PM.
