Chiefs’ Damien Williams practices fully Friday; Andrew Wylie ruled out vs. Bears
The Kansas City Chiefs’ backfield projects to be full-strength against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.
Running back Damien Williams has been nursing a rib injury but put in a full practice Friday and is not assigned a game designation, signaling his return to action for the first time since Week 11.
Williams was limited Wednesday and Thursday before returning to full practice, which means participating in team-related drills. Coach Andy Reid said after Friday’s practice that Williams looked impressive.
“He practiced and did a good job so we will see how that whole thing goes,” Reid said.
The Chiefs will enter the game with running back options that include Williams, LeSean McCoy, Spencer Ware and rookie Darwin Thompson. Despite missing three straight games, Williams’ 309 yards rushing still ranks second on the team behind McCoy’s 465.
The Chiefs should also have cornerback Rashad Fenton (hamstring) and wide receiver Mecole Hardman available Sunday.
Fenton is free of a game designation after practicing fully for a second straight day. Hardman was limited Thursday with a glute injury but returned to full practice Friday.
“He’ll be all right,” Reid said. “It was a knot in there.”
Left guard Andrew Wylie (illness, ankle, shoulder) and cornerback Morris Claiborne (shoulder) are ruled out for the game in Chicago. Claiborne will miss a third straight game since suffering the injury in Week 13.
Reid said Stefen Wisniewski and Cam Erving shared repetitions at left guard during the past week of practice, but Wisniewski appears to be the next man up along the offensive line.
“There’s a good chance and he took the reps,” Reid said. “(Chiefs offensive line coach) Andy (Heck) rotates all those guys, but he took the majority of them there and then Cam has taken some. They can go in there.”
