With Willie Gay suspended, KC Chiefs coach Andy Reid has this plan for his linebackers
The Chiefs are entering a four-game stretch of life without starting linebacker Willie Gay Jr., who is serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
While the timing of the NFL’s discipline has caused some angst among the Chiefs’ fan base, the team was aware a suspension was probably coming.
“We had an idea,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “We had a heads up on it.”
The Chiefs believe they are prepared for Gay’s absence, which includes games against the Indianapolis Colts (Sunday in Indy), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills.
And the team’s Plan B starts with a player who knows the scheme.
Reid indicated the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Darius Harris, who has been with the team since 2019, would be the first man up alongside second-year pro Nick Bolton and likely rookie Leo Chenal in the team’s 4-3 base defensive scheme.
Harris, a core special teams contributor during his time in Kansas City, has appeared in 12 games with two starts, totaling 17 tackles and a forced fumble.
The Chiefs also have linebackers Elijah Lee and rookie Jack Cochrane available. Both were activated from the Chiefs’ practice squad to their active roster in Week 2.
“We’ve got people to fill in, but Darius has a chance to step in there,” Reid said.
Harris also has Reid’s full trust.
“He’s coming off a good preseason,” Reid said. “He kind of knows everything; he’s a sharp kid. He’s tough, got a good concept of the defense, so I think he’ll do a nice job.”
While the Chiefs have alternate plans in place, there’s no doubt that losing a defensive player of Gay’s caliber could have an adverse affect on the defense.
Since joining the Chiefs in 2020 as a second-round pick, Gay has appeared in 30 games with 21 starts as one of the mainstays in the team’s linebackers group. Gay is productive, totaling 63 tackles — six counting for losses — 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and three quarterback hits.
Bolton, though, expressed confidence the Chiefs will be OK during Gay’s four-game absence.
“We got a lot of guys coming in every single day, put work in since training camp to give us an opportunity to go out there and play, play our best,” Bolton said. “When we get Willie back, we’ll be ready to go. He’s going to be missed, but we’ve got to keep going.”
This story was originally published September 21, 2022 at 12:59 PM.
