The Kansas City Chiefs will face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
On Friday, Chiefs coach Andy Reid ruled out running back Isiah Pacheco due to his knee injury, clearing the way for Kareem Hunt to start in his place.
Hunt, who spent last offseason and training camp as a free agent before being signed by the Chiefs in September 2024, said he feels stronger this year after a full season and offseason with Kansas City.
Serving as the No. 2 back behind Pacheco this season, Hunt has logged 70 touches for 302 yards and five total touchdowns across eight games. Rookie Brashard Smith could also see an uptick in snaps on Sunday.
And Elijah Mitchell, inactive all season, could suit up for the first time since losing to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII as a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
“He had a severe injury at one point, and a lot of guys wouldn’t even come back from this thing, and he battled back,” Reid said of Mitchell on Wednesday. “You could see him just get better every week during camp and then progressing through to now. He takes a lot of reps with the scout team group. I would tell you that we all have confidence in his playability for sure.”
Reid would not confirm whether Mitchell would play this weekend, and the running back declined to comment in the locker room Friday.
Along the offensive line, left tackle Jaylon Moore is expected to make his fourth straight start with rookie Josh Simmons (personal reasons) still away from the team. Moore missed Friday’s practice due to illness, but Reid said he expects him to play.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy described what he has seen in Moore during the last month.
“Consistency,” Nagy said. “The moment’s never too big. I go back to right before the one game when everything with him having to have to go in there last minute. He never flinched. He never blinked. He came out in that game, and he’s kept it consistent this whole time.
“There’s a couple things here or there, but with him, I’m just really proud of how he’s handled the moment. He just wants to do his job. He wants to do his part, and to me, that jumps out. ...
“He just comes in every day. He’s a true pro, and he’s doing well with it.”
Reid also confirmed that Trey Smith, who missed Monday night’s game against Washington with a back issue, is expected to return to the lineup.