By Tyler ErzbergerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberAfter a decade of ruling the NFL with an iron fist, this Christmas might be the bleakest in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise.
Not only are they eliminated from the postseason and have no chance of making it to a fourth-straight Super Bowl, but they have also been downgraded to a side character as the Denver Broncos come to town, as they battle the Los Angeles Chargers for the top spot in the AFC West.
Earlier this week, the Chiefs announced they will be relocating to Kansas in 2031, leaving Arrowhead Stadium behind. Now, Missouri fans will have to watch on Christmas as their team is not only without ace Patrick Mahomes but also four other starters, as we learned on Wednesday.
Wide receiver Rashee Rice, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, cornerback Trent McDuffie, and cornerback Jaylen Watson were all placed on the injured reserve, ending their 2025 campaign.
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Rashee Rice came back from an early-season suspension to help bolster the wideout ranks for the Chiefs. Although he wasn’t the No. 1 they needed to push towards another playoff run, he still was one of their more consistent attacking options late in the year.
Thornton was one of those wideouts who attempted to fill in for the depleted receiver room and did well after coming over to the Chiefs from New England in the offseason. In Rice’s absence, he had three touchdowns in the first month of the season.
For the cornerbacks, McDuffie was the 13th-ranked player at his position, per Pro Football Focus. Watson was equally as strong in the secondary, ranked 15th out of all cornerbacks. The two being out leaves a gaping hole in coverage for a Chiefs team already on its last legs after being blown out by rookie Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans last week.
The Chiefs’ rough end to the season could affect the entire upcoming NFL Draft, as not only did they lose to the Titans last week, but they could also face the Las Vegas Raiders on the road in a game that could decide whether the Raiders pick No. 1 overall in Pittsburgh next April.
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