Chiefs expect Laurent Duvernay-Tardif back in 3-4 weeks
The Kansas City Chiefs are expecting to get a critical piece of their offensive line in about a month, with Laurent Duvernay-Tardif recovering from a leg injury.
The Chiefs are rolling, 9-1 and owners of the best record in football alongside the Los Angeles Rams. Now, they are expecting to get even healthier down the stretch.
According to a source, standout guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is expected back in 3-4 weeks from leg and ankle injuries suffered in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Duvernay-Tardif underwent surgery to repair a fractured fibula and torn ankle ligaments, and has been in a cast for the last six weeks.
As James Palmer of NFL Network reported, the cast will be coming off on Monday, with continued rehab to follow. If expectations are fulfilled, Duvernay-Tardif would return sometime in December.
Kansas City’s upcoming schedule features the Rams on Monday night before a bye week and then the Raiders in Oakland. After that, Duvernay-Tardif will be looking at the window he’s believed to be on target for, which would include home games with the Ravens and Chargers.
On this timetable, the doctor from McGill University will have missed approximately two months of action, but would have ample time to knock off the rust before the playoffs.
Without Duvernay-Tardif in the lineup, the Chiefs have gone 4-1 while starting Andrew Wylie in his spot. The Chiefs have also been without center Mitch Morse since Week 6, when he sustained a concussion against the New England Patriots. Morse remains in the concussion protocol and has not practiced in any capacity since sustaining the brain injury.
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If Duvernay-Tardif doesn’t suffer any setbacks and is indeed activated off the Injured Reserve list, he would be the second and final player the Chiefs can make that move with. Daniel Sorensen was the first, coming off IR after breaking his leg in training camp. For those wondering about Eric Berry, he has been on the active roster all season, and so wouldn’t require any sort of move once he’s ready to return from his heel ailment.