Tyreek Hill and others join Patrick Mahomes on bench for Chiefs in Week 17
Tyreek Hill, Patrick Mahomes, and other notable Chiefs will get some rest in Week 17.
The Kansas City Chiefs have the top seed in the AFC locked up and can take it easy in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
We learned earlier this week that Patrick Mahomes would be getting the day off and Chad Henne will start in his place. The Chiefs have now announced even more players who will join him on the bench Sunday.
#Chiefs have ruled out WR Tyreek Hill, WR Sammy Watkins, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire and RT Mike Remmers for Sunday vs. the #Chargers. Patrick Mahomes is getting the week off. A three-week break before they play again.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 1, 2021
Hill joins Mahomes on the Bench
Tyreek Hill and Clyde Edwards-Helaire also being out means the Chiefs will be without their star quarterback, receiver, and running back. Of course, Edwards-Helaire is nursing an injury so his absence was expected.
Switching from two byes per conference to only one put the pressure on from the start of the season. It was also clear from the start the Chiefs were the team to beat in all of football. While there is drama atop the NFC, the Chiefs did so well they can allow their star players to essentially get two bye weeks before playing a postseason game.
One thing this means is that Aaron Rodgers should officially lock up the NFL MVP race this weekend. Mahomes fell off a bit in that discussion, even though his numbers are still good enough to win in most years. That just shows how great Rodgers has been.
The Chiefs have the 6-9 Chargers this week in a game that may determine Anthony Lynn’s future in Los Angeles. A loss to the Chiefs without Mahomes, Hill, and others would not be a great look as the team heads into the offseason.
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Some fans may be worried that too much rest will mean the stars are rusty when the postseason begins. They already have one bye week to begin with and these players are so talented it is hard to imagine any sort of major drop-off when the Divisional round begins. There is also no reason to risk injury when the top seed is locked up. Andy Reid is making the safe and smart move. If they do lose, that’s not because of the rest.