What are the chances Chiefs’ Mike Pennel returns to action this week? Here’s Andy Reid
Help appears imminent on the Chiefs’ defensive line.
Veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel, who started the season serving a two-game suspension, is eligible to return after Monday night’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders.
And the Chiefs apparently won’t spend too much time debating whether to get Pennel back on their active 53-player roster in time for Week 3’s showdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
“There’s a chance he’s back up ready to go,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday. “I’ll let (general manager Brett) Veach do that part, but there’s a good chance he’s up.”
The looming return of Pennel would be welcomed depth for a defensive line dealing with injuries.
Second-year pro Khalen Saunders, who suffered an elbow injury in Week 1, recently landed on injured reserve and the Chiefs elevated defensive tackle Braxton Hoyett from the practice squad for Week 2. Additionally, the Chiefs played Week 2 without starting left defensive end Alex Okafor, who suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1.
While the Chiefs have versatile defensive linemen, such as Tanoh Kpassagnon and rookie Tershawn Wharton, to line up either inside or outside, the 6-4, 330-pound Pennel is a natural interior defensive lineman. His presence provides the Chiefs more options in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme.
Pennel, a native of Topeka, originally joined the Chiefs on a one-year deal midway through the 2019 season and quickly became a key contributor as part of the defensive line rotation.
Regarded as a run-stuffer, Pennel went on to finish last season appearing in eight regular-season games, totaling 24 tackles, a sack, a quarterback hit and two tackles for a loss on 154 defensive snaps. In the Chiefs’ three postseason games, he totaled seven tackles and a quarterback hit on 52 defensive snaps before re-signing a one-year deal to return during the offseason.
Reid didn’t have any of his usual Monday morning injury updates following Sunday’s thrilling 23-20 overtime win against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Wide receiver Sammy Watkins (head), defensive end Frank Clark (illness), running back Darrel Williams (ankle) and cornerback Antonio Hamilton (groin) did not finish the game.
Reid, however, did indicate the evaluation process continues on cornerback Charvarius Ward, whose fractured hand suffered in Week 1 prevented him from playing in L.A. Sunday against the Chargers.
“We’ll see with Charvarius,” Reid said.
The Chiefs are off Tuesday and Wednesday and then have three straight days of practice Thursday to Saturday before flying to Baltimore to take on the Ravens on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.”
