To accommodate newly acquired defensive end Joshua Uche, the Kansas City Chiefs are placing tight end Jody Fortson on injured reserve, according to Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride on October 28.
Late in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 27-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8, Fortson sustained an injury while attempting to recover an onside kick. He needed assistance from the training staff to reach the sidelines, unable to put weight on his right leg.
After the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Fortson had suffered a right knee injury, which would require further evaluation to assess the extent of the damage. The Athletic’s Nate Taylor reported that Fortson had to use crutches to leave the locker room.
Reid Reflects on the Chiefs’ Week 8 Win
Following the victory over Las Vegas, which improved the Chiefs’ record to 7-0, Reid discussed the team’s performance at Allegiant Stadium.
“Defensively, we really stepped up with five sacks,” Reid stated on October 27. “Guys like [Mike] Pennel, Drue [Tranquill], and Nick Bolton played exceptionally well throughout the day. There were other players who also contributed positively, but I thought our defense did a nice job.”
“Offensively, there were several positive takeaways. Pat [Mahomes] had a solid day, completing 27 of 38 passes for over 250 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Trav [Travis Kelce] had a great game with 10 receptions for 90 yards, and it was nice to see DeAndre [Hopkins] involved, especially with a key third-down catch. Kareem [Hunt] had 21 carries for 59 yards; he kept pushing forward, which is what we need. We went 12 of 16 on third downs and 3 for 4 in the red zone, which are good stats to highlight.”
Fan Reactions to the Uche Trade
Fans on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to the Chiefs’ trade for Uche on October 28.
“Good organizations, like them or hate them, always strive to improve,” said Anthony Cosenza of Cincy Jungle. “Whether it’s referee bias or other issues, these moves are indicative of a championship-level mindset.”
Another user commented, “If you can’t bolster the secondary, then get players who can pressure the quarterback. Uche may not be elite, but he has had success and will create favorable matchups, helping to keep players like [Charles] Omenihu and George [Karlaftis] fresh.”
One fan pointed out, “It’s interesting how the team that consistently wins Super Bowls is always making in-season improvements, while some fans argue there are multiple ways to achieve a championship.”