The Kansas City Chiefs will be without quarterback Alex Smith on Sunday after he suffered a lacerated spleen and they will have backup Chase Daniel as the starter against the San Diego Chargers in a game with AFC playoffs implications.
Smith suffered the injury last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers and while he was able to stay in the game and practice the following week, he will miss the game on Sunday. According to ESPN.com, Smith was diagnosed with the injury on Thursday and that Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said Smith will not need surgery. Smith could be back if the Chiefs make a deep playoff run, but they still need help to just get in and the recovery time is at least a month.
The San Diego Chargers are currently in the sixth playoff spot in the AFC and if they win they will clinch a playoff berth in the conference. The Chiefs are still alive for the playoffs, but they need to win and to get some help, including the Ravens losing to the Browns and the Texans losing (or pulling a tie) with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Smith has no long term issues to worry about, but unless the Chiefs make a deep playoff run he will be done for the season. Daniel has zero yards this season, but in his career he has thrown for 303 yards and one touchdown and has one start, also against the San Diego Chargers. Daniel started last year in Week 17 against the Chargers and he threw for 200 yards and one touchdown in the game and went 21 of 30 throwing the ball.
The Chiefs host the Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday at 1 pm ET and they are currently third in the AFC West at 8-7 on the season. The team is still looking for a WR to catch a TD pass and now they need some major help if they want to make the playoffs for a second straight season. The team is ranked 28th in passing yards per game this season and the defense is second in passing yards allowed per game.
