Chiefs News 10/30: Nick Bolton gets good report from MRI

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Chiefs’ Nick Bolton gets good report from MRI | ESPN

Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton got banged up Monday night, but an MRI revealed no structural issues to his knee. It could be a situation where he’s limited

early in the practice week but gets to the field Sunday

— Jeremy Fowler

Reasons why Bills should play WR Gabe Davis against Chiefs | Sports Illustrated

With the state of the Bills’ wide receiver position going from bad to worse in recent weeks, the team activated fan favorite Gabe Davis from the practice squad injured list. And it’s time for the Bills to sign the 26-year-old to the 53-man roster and play him this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I’m down for whatever,” said Davis to a swath of reporters following Wednesday’s practice. “That’s an upstairs decision. I just got to go out there and keep working.”

After watching the Bills’ passing game struggle through through a 5-2 start, the inconsistencies across many areas of the team’s aerial attack have been concerning. And there’s nowhere to go but up.

Buffalo remains without prized free-agent addition Joshua Palmer, who has missed two straight days of practice to begin Week 9 after being held out of the Bills’ win over the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday due to ankle and knee injuries he sustained in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons. In addition, Keon Coleman’s production has been nonexistent in his second professional season, leaving the team with Khalil Shakir as the only viable wide receiver at quarterback Josh Allen’s disposal.

Rivalry between Bills and Chiefs means just a little more | WKBW

The Bills and Chiefs have become the modern-day Celtics vs. Lakers, Yankees vs. Red Sox in terms of how many times their games become “instant classics.”

At the center of it all, of course, is each team’s respective MVP, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. A modern-day Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird, Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier, Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin, the list can go on and on.

The two have carved their own pedestal on top of the sports world through incredible games, moments, and plays that have jaws on the floor and made the impossible a reality.

“Anytime you’re playing against a good team and a good quarterback, you have to play at the top of your game in order to win a football game,” Allen told reporters on Wednesday. “Again, not that you’re out there trying not to play your best, but there’s a heightened awareness of who’s on the other side of the football.”

“He’s done so many great things as far as throwing the football, and the way he’s able to extend plays, that stuff is special,” Mahomes said of Allen on Wednesday. “He’s gotten better every year, and I think that’s something I’ve seen from him that I try to do for myself as well. He’s a great football player.”

Cowboys could trade for Chiefs’ cornerback at trade deadline | ESPN

Who could be targeted? Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams. Every Dallas cornerback aside from Trevon Diggs has allowed more than 1.1 yards per coverage snap (average) this season, per NFL Next Gen Stats. And Diggs is now on IR because of a concussion, so the Cowboys could use some reinforcements. Williams is in a contract year and buried on the depth chart in Kansas City. He has played only 775 regular-season coverage snaps in his career but has produced an impressive 0.9 yards per coverage snap in that span. When Diggs returns, and if Williams worked out, the team could keep both on the field with DaRon Bland in the slot.

— Seth Walder

Trade idea sends Chiefs’ fourth-year year underperformer to Commanders | Heavy

[Isiah] Pacheco does not feel like the same kind of angry, aggressive runner he once was earlier in his career.

Although his metrics have not decreased dramatically since 2023, and are actually up slightly on his 2024 performance, it feels like the momentum is starting to shift away from him and towards veteran back, Kareem Hunt, or even seventh round rookie, Brashard Smith.

So in this trade proposal, the Chiefs trade away Pacheco, whose contract is up at the end of the season, to the Washington Commanders.

Fans and media alike have been begging head coach, Andy Reid and co. to let Smith get more touches of the ball and see more time on offense, and in the meantime Kareem Hunt provides very similar efficiency to Pacheco in the run game – 4 yards/carry vs. 4.2 yards/carry.

The team also have Elijah Mitchell; who missed the entirety of the 2024 season with a hamstring injury, but has been very productive earlier in his career, including a 963 yard rushing season in his rookie year for the San Francisco 49ers; and has yet to see the field this season on offense.

Chiefs’ Noah Gray nominated for NFL’s “Salute to Service” award | NFL.com

Now in his fifth season with the Kansas City Chiefs, tight end Noah Gray continues to use his platform to honor, uplift, and connect with U.S. military service members and veterans. His commitment is especially evident through his partnership with Friends in Service of Heroes (FISH), a Kansas City-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting active-duty personnel, reservists, honorably discharged veterans, and their families.

Gray’s relationship with FISH began unexpectedly in late 2021, following a chance meeting with members of the organization at a local bowling alley. That encounter sparked an enduring connection, leading Gray to actively support FISH’s mission in meaningful ways. From helping provide service dogs to offering adaptive equipment that fosters resilience and independence, Gray has played a vital role in enhancing the lives of those who’ve served.

Beyond these efforts, Gray has also stood alongside FISH during emotionally challenging times, including the holiday season, offering support and solidarity to veterans navigating hardship. His ongoing involvement reflects a deep respect for the military community and a genuine desire to make a lasting impact.

Around the NFL

Cowboys’ Brian Schottenheimer: “Take the stats on offense and shove ’em” | NFL.com

At 3-4-1, Dallas has been good enough to win (and in one instance, tie) shootouts. The Cowboys have also been porous enough defensively to get shredded by the likes of Denver, Carolina and the Russell Wilson-led Giants, with the last being the most damning fact of all.

It’s been evident from the first week of the season: The Cowboys are an offensively driven team, powered by a unit capable of scoring enough to keep them in most games thanks in large part to the excellent play of quarterback Dak Prescott.

That’s understandably not satisfactory for first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer.

“None of us have done good enough. Coaches, players, head coach, none of us have done good enough,” Schottenheimer told reporters on Wednesday. “That’s real. Our scorecard is what it is. That’s not just defensively, that’s offensively. We’re a football team that’s 3-4-1. You can take the stats on offense and shove ’em up your a– as far as I’m concerned.”

Ravens-Dolphins: 3 must-know storylines for Thursday’s primetime game | NFL.com

3. Ravens’ defense might be turning the corner

Starting with a far better performance against the Rams before the bye, the Ravens have shown improved effectiveness defensively. In Weeks 1-5, Baltimore allowed 35.4 points and 408.8 yards per game, with a total of two takeaways. But since then, the Ravens have allowed only 16.5 ppg and 306.5 ypg, with two turnovers forced in the past two games. Roquan Smith was all over the field this past Sunday against his former Chicago team, Nate Wiggins made his biggest play of the season with a key fourth-quarter pick against the Bears and Kyle Hamilton has lifted the entire unit since his return. The biggest worry is the pass rush. The Ravens’ season leaders in pressures are Odafe Oweh, who was traded to the Chargers in Week 5, and Tavius Robinson, who is on injured reserve. Rookie Mike Green had his first sack of the season in Week 8, but the pressure against Chicago was sub-par. Luckily for the Ravens, Tagovailoa has thrown the most interceptions in the NFL this season when not pressured, with seven. If the Ravens can control Miami’s run game and contain Jaylen Waddle — with Tyreek Hill and Darren Waller on IR — they should be in decent shape even if the pressure isn’t consistently fierce.

Lions sign Aidan Hutchinson to 4-year, $180M extension | ESPN

The deal is worth $180 million with $141 million of that guaranteed, his agent Mike McCartney told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Hutchinson’s $45 million average salary trails only the Green Bay Packers’ Micah Parsons ($46.5 million) among non-quarterbacks in the NFL. And the guarantee is the highest among non-QBs, according to Roster Management System.

Hutchinson, 25, is a cornerstone of the Lions’ defense, already establishing himself as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL. He has been able to return to his dominant form in 2025 after his 2024 season was cut short by a fractured tibia and fibula suffered in Week 6.

He has six sacks this season, while his 29 quarterback pressures rank second in the NFL behind only Parsons (33), and his four forced fumbles are tied with Joey Bosa for the league lead.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Why play action is a great fit for the Chiefs’ offense

As we saw in this game, the Chiefs’ pass-catchers still struggle against press coverage. They thrive versus zone, but when opponents jam Kansas City’s smaller wideouts, separation becomes an issue. In particular, Hollywood Brown struggles in those situations — and on Monday, Worthy also lost a contested catch against man coverage on a dig route. At this stage of his career, Kelce isn’t as dominant against man coverage, either.

But using more play-action forces defenses into more base zone looks — or manipulates them with fakes and motion. Getting into 12 personnel or condensed sets can give receivers free releases. You can leak players to the back side as defenders chase the action. This makes their jobs easier — and gives them built-in answers against man coverage.

Here’s the other advantage: Kansas City’s running backs are far better running from under-center alignments. Both Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are one-cut, north-south runners. Going under center makes their tracks cleaner and enhances that style. Replacing more RPOs with true under-center play action can not only improve the ground game, but also generate more explosive throws over the middle — rather than quick sideline passes.