KC Chiefs thrilled to have linebacker Willie Gay Jr. back from four-game suspension
The Chiefs are set to have one defensive starter — and maybe two — back this week ahead of Week 7’s road game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday he had yet to meet with general manager Brett Veach about linebacker Willie Gay Jr.’s status. But the coach said he believed the Chiefs would activate Gay from the reserve/suspension list to the team’s 53-player roster — a move that’s procedural in nature.
“I presume that’s what will take place,” Reid said.
Gay has been serving a four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL’s personal-conduct policy, stemming from the linebacker’s January 2022 off-field incident.
The Chiefs’ second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft was eligible to return Monday after he missed games against the Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs went 2-2 in that span.
After spending the first two weeks away from the team, Gay was allowed to return to team facilities in Week 4 while still serving the suspension. During the past two weeks, Gay was allowed to attend meetings but not participate in practice or attend games.
Reid said just having Gay around the team, despite the restrictions in his activity, was beneficial for the third-year linebacker.
“I’m glad the league lets them back in with the group,” Reid said. “That’s a good place for him to be and stay in tune with the game, so when he has an opportunity to get back in, he knows what’s going on.”
Gay’s return will shake up the Chiefs’ current linebacker rotation. The speedy and athletic Gay opened the season as a starter at the weakside position alongside middle linebacker Nick Bolton and rookie Leo Chenal, who manned the strong side, in the Chiefs’ 4-3 base defense.
When Gay was suspended, the Chiefs turned to Darius Harris, who has performed admirably over the past four games. But with Gay back in the fold, Harris and Chenal could lose playing time.
Reid still expects the duo to remain involved because of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s multiple defensive packages.
“(They’ve) done a nice job for us,” Reid said of Harris and Chenal. “It will be great to get Willie back in the mix of things, and then we’ll just see. Spags does a lot of personnel groups, and we got one more good football player in there sure will help, too.”
Gay isn’t the only player the Chiefs are on track to welcome back in time for Sunday’s game in the Bay Area.
Reid appeared optimistic that rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie, one of two Chiefs’ first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, could be activated from injured reserve.
“If he can go this week, we’ll get him in there playing,” Reid said of McDuffie, who suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1. “Just want to see how he does during the week of practice and see how it feels. But if he can get back in, we’ll let him play.”
The Chiefs last week designated McDuffie, who opened the regular season as a starter, as ready return to practice from injured reserve. The designation officially opened a 21-day window in which the Chiefs must decide whether to activate him to the 53-player roster.
McDuffie wasn’t activated in time for Sunday’s home loss to the Bills.
This story was originally published October 17, 2022 at 1:22 PM.
