Matt Nagy To Remain Chiefs' Play-Caller
The Chiefs‘ offense bounced back after a rough stretch, going off for 31 points and four Alex Smith touchdown passes in a loss to the Jets. While Kansas City’s defense couldn’t hold up in a shootout, the team will be sticking with the offensive setup that authored the mini-turnaround. OC Matt Nagy will continue to call plays, B.J. Kissel of KCChiefs.com tweets. The 474 yards the Chiefs put up were the most since their 537-yard explosion against the Patriots in Week 1. The Chiefs host the Raiders in what’s close to a must-win game. Nagy has been mentioned as a head-coaching candidate, and these games he has play-calling responsibilities could be a key factor in whether he’ll get that opportunity in 2018.
Chiefs Place Dee Ford On IR
Dee Ford‘s back injury has become serious enough the Chiefs placed the outside linebacker on IR.
The team announced the move and the signing of Eagles practice squad cog Justin Hamilton, a defensive tackle, to the 53-man roster.
Ford had missed the past four Chiefs games with the back ailment. He is signed through the 2018 season via fifth-year option. The Chiefs exercised Ford’s guaranteed-against-injury option of $8.72MM back in May. However, Ford did not have the kind of year he did when he broke out in 2016. He will finish his season with just two sacks and six games played. The 2014 first-round pick registered 10 last season, emerging after two years largely spent sitting behind Justin Houston and Tamba Hali.
Kansas City’s plan was to have Hali rotate in behind Houston and Ford this season, but Ford’s injury prevented this. No. 4 pass rusher Frank Zombo has been forced into extensive action.
The Chiefs have missed Ford’s presence during their losing streak, one that has them at 6-6 after a 5-0 start. Kansas City will already be without Marcus Peters in Week 14 due to a team-imposed suspension, and Hali missed last week’s game with a knee injury. However, he’s expected to play against the Raiders.
Hamilton played in three games for the Eagles this season, the UDFA’s rookie campaign. Hamilton has bounced around the league since entering in 2015 as a Bills UDFA. He’s also spent time with the Packers and Seahawks.
Chiefs Suspend Marcus Peters
The Chiefs have suspended cornerback Marcus Peters for Sunday’s game against the Raiders, coach Andy Reid announced. 
“This was something Marcus and I discussed,” Reid said (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star) “I’m going to leave it at that.”
Peters lost his cool during Sunday’s game against the Jets when teammate Steven Nelson was called for defensive holding on a two-point conversion attempt. After throwing the penalty flag into the stands, Peters was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of his own. Peters ran off of the field and into the locker room, though he was not ejected from the game. Chiefs personnel had to follow Peters into the tunnel to inform him that he was still in the game. Reid, clearly, was angered by Peters’ actions.
Reid is sending a clear message to the Chiefs in advance of a hugely important divisional game. At 6-6, KC is currently in a three-way with the Chargers and Raiders for top record in the AFC West. A loss on Sunday would extend the Chiefs’ streak to five games and put them behind the 8-ball. The Chiefs presently have a 56.8% chance of reaching the postseason and a 54.3% chance of taking the division, according to Football Outsiders.
Without Peters, the Chiefs will be leaning more on Terrance Mitchell and Darrelle Revis alongside starter Kenneth Acker. With five cornerbacks still remaining on the roster, they don’t necessarily have to add one between now and Sunday.
JLC: Chiefs Expected To Trade Alex Smith
There is a “strong expectation” the Chiefs will trade Alex Smith this offseason, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports. There could be a “historic” quarterback market in 2018, a league source told La Canfora, and Smith’s name may be a key part of it. The fifth-year Kansas City starter has just one more season left on his contract, and the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes waiting in the wings. While Mahomes is viewed as a project, and one that might not necessarily mesh with the Chiefs’ veteran core right away, Smith has struggled after a hot start — although, he has four touchdown passes today — and has the Chiefs teetering on the fringe of the AFC race despite a 5-0 run to open the season. The Chiefs sent two second-round picks to the 49ers for a then-28-year-old Smith in 2013, and while their return might not be quite on that level given Smith’s age (34 in May) and contract status, the supply-and-demand issues at this position figure to make Smith a valuable trade chip. Smith is due to comprise $20.6MM of K.C.’s 2018 cap.
Andy Reid To Hand Over Play-Calling Duties
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will hand over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for the team’s game against the Jets today, as ESPN’s Chris Mortensen tweets. Reid will “continue to have oversight” of the play-calling, per Mortensen, which means that he will retain veto power over Nagy’s decisions.
Reid’s decision comes on the heels of a horrible stretch for Kansas City, which started the season 5-0 only to lose five of its next six. The Chiefs’ sputtering offense has been a big reason for its slide, and quarterback Alex Smith has experienced a precipitous drop-off in his quality of play after looking like a legitimate MVP candidate earlier in the season. Reid apparently decided enough is enough and is hoping a new voice in Smith’s ear will give him a bit of a boost.
As Mortensen observes (via Twitter), this is not the first time that Reid has done something like this, as he has temporarily ceded play-calling responsibilities to his offensive coordinators in both Philadelphia and Kansas City.
Even more interesting is Mortensen’s tweet concerning Smith himself. Although Reid has steadfastly supported his incumbent signal-caller — and just last week we heard that the Chiefs would only turn to rookie Patrick Mahomes this season if Smith were to get hurt — Mortensen suggests that, if Smith struggles against New York today, Mahomes could get the nod.
Nagy, of course, is a popular head-coaching candidate who could get his first chance to lead an NFL team this offseason.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/30/17
Here are the latest workout and visit updates, courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer unless otherwise noted.
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Green Bay Packers
- TE Devon Cajuste (visit), LB Ahmad Thomas (visit)
Kansas City Chiefs
- TE Anthony Firkser, Henry Krieger-Coble (link)
Miami Dolphins
- RB Russell Hansbrough, RB Kalif Phillips, RB Brandon Radcliff (link)
New Orleans Saints
- TE Alex Ellis, TE Darion Griswold, TE Henry Krieger-Coble, TE Robert Tonyan (link)
Oakland Raiders
- WR Seantavius Jones, WR Francis Owusu, WR Tevaun Smith (link)
San Francisco 49ers
- T Reid Fragel, CB Senquez Golson, K Garrett Hartley, CB Michael Hunter (visit), CB Keith Lewis, LB Boseko Lokombo, LB John Lotulelei, CB J.R. Nelson, TE Luke Papilion, RB Jhurell Pressley, RB Khiry Robinson, CB Channing Stribling RB Jahad Thomas, WR Javon Williams, TE Travis Wilson, CB Lou Young (Twitter links via Balzer)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/28/17
NFL Workout Updates: 11/28/17
Here are today’s workout updates, courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer unless otherwise noted.
Chicago Bears
- WR Mekale McKay, WR Canaan Severin, WR Rodney Smith (Twitter link)
Cleveland Browns
- LB Lavar Edwards, LB Jayrone Elliott, LB Marcus Rush, DE Devin Taylor (Twitter link)
Detroit Lions
- WR Eric Rogers, WR Daikiel Shorts
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
- DT Mike Purcell (Twitter link)
New York Jets
- DL Marcus Hardison
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Kenneth Olugbode, TE Hayden Plinke, RB Jhurell Pressley, RB Brandon Radcliff (Twitter link)
Tennessee Titans
- DL Stefan Charles, DL Johnny Maxey
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/28/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed off Saints’ practice squad: LB Gabe Martin
- Signed: RB Bronson Hill
- Waived: S Harlan Miller
- Waived: G/T Vinston Painter
Chicago Bears
- Waived: WR Tre McBride
Denver Broncos
- Released from IR: TE A.J. Derby
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed: TE Ross Travis
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Orson Charles
New England Patriots
- Signed off Ravens’ Practice Squad: LB Nicholas Grigsby
- Signed: OL Jason King
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR Isaac Whitney
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Rodney Coe
- Waived: DT Garrison Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Bobo Wilson
- Signed: FB Alan Cross
- Waived: TE Luke Stocker
Details On Darrelle Revis’ Deal With Chiefs
Darrelle Revis‘ new deal with the Chiefs could prove to be very lucrative for this season and next. After Revis is done double-dipping in 2017, he could collect up to $13.5MM in 2018, Field Yates of ESPN.com hears.
[RELATED: Chiefs Sign Darrelle Revis]
That’s a ton of money for a player who some say is over the hill and under-motivated, but the Chiefs felt they had to take the risk to beef up their secondary. It also helps that KC can bail on the deal without major penalty before the start of next season.
Revis’ $1.015MM base salary for next year becomes guaranteed if he is on the roster on the fifth day of the 2018 league year, plus $185K more available through a workout bonus. If he stays on the roster, he’ll earn a weekly roster bonus of $550K for each game. All in all, he’d see $8.8MM in bonuses if he remains with the team throughout the season – even if he’s on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list.
The Chiefs’ success this year could also impact Revis’ 2018 paycheck. The cornerback will get $1.75MM in roster bonuses for next year if he plays more than half of the snaps in a victorious AFC Championship Game for the Chiefs. If he plays more than half of the snaps in a Super Bowl LII win, he’ll boost that number to $3.5MM. That bonus would be paid out to Revis on the first day of the 2018 league year. Interestingly, he can still qualify for the SB bonus even if he does not achieve the conference game bonus.
For the rest of this year, the veteran will earn roughly $353K per week, the total of his Chiefs pay plus the prorated portion of his $6MM guarantee from the Jets. There’s a lot of money (potentially) being paid out to Revis, but it will be all worthwhile for KC if he can help right the ship for this season. And, if he looks a lot like his 2016 version, the Chiefs can rid themselves of the obligation pretty easily.
Revis had 43 tackles, one interception, and five passes defended in 15 games for Gang Green last year. He graded out as the league’s No. 64 corner in 2016, per Pro Football Focus, a far cry from where he was in his first Jets stint.