For the first time since September 21, 2014, when he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterback Chad Henne will start an NFL game this weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said earlier this week that he planned on resting his starters during the last game of the 2020 regular-season. Yesterday, in a press conference, he went a little further on the details by naming Henne the signal-caller that will start in the Chiefs’ regular-season finale.
He also mentioned that veteran QB Matt Moore, who’s currently on the team’s practice squad, could also see some playing time.
“I haven’t gone through all the deactivations and activations, but Chad will go ahead and play,” Reid told the media. “And there’s a good chance Matt [Moore]’s up, but we’ll see when it’s all said and done how that works out.”
The Chiefs locked up the AFC West division a few weeks ago, against Miami, and clinched the top seed, as well as home-field advantage throughout the AFC postseason, following their victory over the Atlanta Falcons last week. Leaving Kansas City’s Week 17 game against the Chargers somewhat meaningless, at least for the starters.
Reid said that this week’s matchup will be an excellent opportunity for the younger players to get some playing time and show the coaches why they belong on the roster in 2021.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for some of our young guys, our guys who haven’t had a chance to play, to get in and play,” Reid said. “I will, for better terms I guess, sit some of the starters and do the best I can to rest them up and get them ready for later. But for right now, I’m excited to let these other guys get in and have an opportunity to play.”
Now in his eleventh season, third in Kansas City, Henne appeared twice this season for the Chiefs to help close out games against the Denver Broncos and New York Jets and completed 5 of 6 passes for 30 yards and has a rushing touchdown.
Henne also spoke to the media yesterday and talked about his week of preparation leading up to his first start in six seasons.
“I mean, it’s been a while,” Henne said. “It’s crazy to think my last game was 2014. I mean, I got all my games in when I was young and then I had like a five- or six-year span where I didn’t get any playing time or just like, some playing time, just when we were up or down, but I’m really excited.”
Henne also said that he’s ready to take this opportunity to show that he still has what it takes to be an NFL quarterback.
“When we go out there and practice against the defense each and every day, I try to give them the best look each and every week and fit throws in there that are tight throws, that you normally do in the game that you have to make. So, I think being prepared all the way through this year with the defense and giving them a look hopefully will prepare me for Sunday,” he explained.
Henne was acquired by the Chiefs via free agency in 2018 and has only appeared in a total of three games. He spent all of the 2019 season on injured reserve, leaving the door open for Matt Moore to take the spotlight while Mahomes was down with a dislocated knee cap.
Henne is 18-35 as a starter but has not started a game for Kansas City until this Sunday.
