The Kansas City Chiefs continue to be without one of their main defensive contributors as star safety Tyrann Mathieu has yet to find his way off the NFL reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, September 1. Mathieu missed practice all week as the team prepares for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns at Arrowhead Stadium.
During his media session on Friday afternoon, Chiefs Head Coach still didn’t know if Mathieu would be suiting up on Sunday, or not, as the 29-year-old’s playing status is still up in the air.
“We’re just going to see how it goes,” said head coach Andy Reid. “The other guys at practice are ready to go. If he can’t go, he can’t go. If he can, then he can.”
The Chiefs have until 3 p.m. Arrowhead time on Saturday to activate Mathieu off the COVID list. If he still tests positive, then that leaves a very real possibility that Mathieu may miss his first game as a Chief.
Should Mathieu not suit up for Kansas City, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnulo said on Thursday, the Chiefs are prepared for multiple scenarios which could result in more playing time for third-year safety Juan Thornhill.
After missing OTAs and overcoming a groin injury early in training camp, Thornhill saw playing time with the first, second, even third-team defenses. Then in the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals, he made a breakthrough defensive play with a diving interception.
“I’m back,” the 25-year-old declared after the Chiefs’ second preseason game. “There were times last season I was doubting myself. I was never 100% — I just had to fight through the pain. This offseason, I’ve just attacked it. I’m trying to get my knee back to 100%, and I can definitely say I’m back.”
The team seems to have confidence in Thornhill as well.
“If Juan has to play, he’ll do fine,” assured Reid on Friday. “He’s had a good week of practice — a couple of weeks of practice here, so we have full trust in him.”
