Running back Isiah Pacheco will miss his second straight game for the Chiefs, but wide receiver Xavier Worthy appears ready to play in Sunday’s AFC West showdown against the Denver Broncos.
And left Josh Simmons, who has missed the previous four games with what’s been described as a personal matter, could return to action — perhaps even start — the Week 11 NFL game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Friday.
“There’s a chance,” Reid said. “Let me just see.”
Reid said he and offensive line coach Andy Heck would evaluate Simmons’ readiness to return. Simmons, the team’s first-round draft pick this year out of Ohio State, started the Chiefs’ first five games. He was off to a solid start when he left the team for undisclosed personal reasons.
Jaylon Moore, signed as a free agent, has stepped in and started the four games Simmons has missed. The Chiefs are 3-1 in those games, falling to Buffalo two weeks ago in Week 9, before their bye week.
Reid said Simmons “has done some good things” this week upon returning to practice.
Worthy, meanwhile, showed up on Thursday’s injury report as a limited participant in practice because of an ankle injury. But he was working out Friday during the portion of practice that was open to the media.
“He’s good to go, he did everything today,” Reid said of Worthy.
In seven games, Worthy has caught 24 passes for 256 yards with a touchdown while rushing for 73 yards on seven carries.
Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis, who has been limited this week with a thumb injury, also was working out Friday .
“George did a nice job today,” Reid said.
Pacheco, the Chiefs’ leading rusher this season with 329 yards, suffered the knee injury late in Kansas City’s Week 8 game against the Washington Commanders. He missed the next contest against the Bills. He’s the only player listed as out for the Denver game.
Sunday’s game at Invesco Field at Mile High is on CBS (Channel 5 in Kansas City) and kicks off at 3:25 p.m. (Central Time).