Chiefs rookie WR Skyy Moore won’t play in Saturday’s regular-season finale vs. Raiders
Skyy Moore’s rookie campaign — the regular-season part of it, anyway — has ended before the Chiefs take the field Saturday in Las Vegas against the Raiders.
Moore, who is dealing with a hand injury, was not spotted on the field Thursday during the brief portion of Chiefs practice that was open to the media. Shortly afterward, the ruling came down.
“Skyy Moore will be listed as out,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.
Moore was hurt during the second half of Sunday’s 27-24 home win against the Denver Broncos. Reid said Wednesday that Moore “split his hand” and had sutures put in.
The Chiefs’ second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft ends his regular season having appeared in 16 games with three starts, totaling 22 catches for 250 yards and three carries for 24 yards and a touchdown. He also contributed on special teams as a punt returner, logging 86 yards on 14 returns but losing the ball three times.
Even with Moore out Saturday, the Chiefs still have plenty of receiver depth. They activated Mecole Hardman (pelvis) from the reserve/injured list Wednesday, and he could return to action Saturday for the first time since Week 9.
“We’ll just see about him,” Reid said. “He’s day to day as we go here.”
Meanwhile, kicker Harrison Butker, who missed Wednesday’s session with back spasms, returned to practice Thursday. He appears to be on track to play Saturday, barring a setback, but the Chiefs are keeping their options open.
“There’s a chance we bring somebody in just as a precautionary measure,” Reid said.
While Reid declined to go into specifics about a potential insurance signing, current free agent Matthew Wright makes perfect sense. He kicked in two games for the Chiefs earlier in the season when Butker missed time with an ankle injury.
Wright converted three of four field-goal attempts with KC, including a then-team-record effort of 59 yards in Week 5 against the Raiders. Butker broke the record with a 62-yard field goal in his Week 6 return against the Buffalo Bills.
Reid said “the rest of the guys practiced” Thursday, including cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (hip) and left guard Joe Thuney (ankle). Both players were limited in practice on Wednesday.
The Chiefs later Thursday afternoon designated Hardman, Butker, Sneed and Thuney as questionable for Saturday’s game.
If Thuney can’t play against the Raiders, the Chiefs will likely rely on backup center/guard Nick Allegretti, who started at left guard in Weeks 12-13.
This story was originally published January 5, 2023 at 2:29 PM.
