The Kansas City Chiefs could get their top draft pick back ahead of an important Week 6 game with the Buffalo Bills.
After spending four weeks on the injured reserve list, rookie CB Trent McDuffie is now eligible to both be designated to return from injured reserve and activated to the 53-man roster beginning this week. McDuffie injured his hamstring in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals and was subsequently placed on injured reserve with his injury. That meant he would miss a minimum of four weeks.
There was some early speculation that he wouldn’t be ready until after the bye week, but Andy Reid suggested last week that he’d at least make his return to practice ahead of Week 6.
“He’s doing great,” Reid said. “He’s got this week here and I think he’ll maybe get back in there next week.”
When McDuffie is designated to return from injured reserve, it will open a 21-day practice window. The Chiefs will have those 21 days to decide to activate McDuffie to the 53-man roster. If he’s not activated during those 21 days, he’ll remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
It is possible that McDuffie could be designated to return, practice, be activated to the 53-man roster and play in Week 6. It really all just depends on how good he looks during the practice week. If he can return, it’d be a big boost for the defense, as the first-round pick was flawless in his 30 or so snaps prior to his injury in Week 1.
Update: Chiefs HC Andy Reid indicated on Wednesday afternoon that McDuffie would be designated to return from injured reserve and make his return to practice.
