‘He’s back’: KC Chiefs cornerback and 1st-round pick Trent McDuffie returns to practice

Rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie returned to practice Wednesday, officially opening a 21-day evaluation period in which the Chiefs will decide whether to activate him from injured reserve.

McDuffie, one of the Chiefs’ two first-round NFL Draft picks earlier this year, could be available for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium if the coaching and training staffs believe he’s ready.

McDuffie hurt his hamstring in the Chiefs’ season opener at the Arizona Cardinals. The Chiefs placed him on the reserve/injured list on Sept. 13, meaning he had to spend a minimum of four weeks on IR.

“He’s back,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid confirmed midday Wednesday. “He’ll practice. He’s been rehabbing and we’ll just see how he does. He’s been going full-speed with his rehab. We’ll see how he does working back in.”

Rookie Jaylon Watson has filled in for McDuffie in recent weeks, earning an AFC Defensive Player of the Week award after returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown in Week 2.

In another big piece of injury news Wednesday, Reid said kicker Harrison Butker (left-ankle sprain) would also practice that afternoon. Butker had only been able to practice once, in limited fashion, since suffering the injury in the Chiefs’ opener.

Butker has missed four straight games. Matt Ammendola handled placekicking duties in Weeks 2-3 before being cut; Matthew Wright was the Chiefs’ kicker in Weeks 4-5.

Right guard Trey Smith (pectoral) and defensive end Mike Danna (calf) were also expected to practice Wednesday in some capacity. Both players were inactive in Week 5.

Cornerbacks Rashad Fenton (hamstring spasm) and Chris Lammons (hip), rookie safety Bryan Cook (concussion) and defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton (knee) were not practicing Wednesday. Wharton suffered a torn ACL in Monday night’s win against the Raiders.

The Chiefs later in the afternoon listed Smith as a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, while Butker, Danna and defensive end Frank Clark (illness) were noted as limited.

Tight end Travis Kelce (hip, back), linebacker Nick Bolton (quad) and wide receivers Mecole Hardman (heel), Skyy Moore (ankle) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (quad, hamstring) all practiced fully.

The Chiefs activated defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth from their practice squad to 53-player roster and waived rookie defensive end Benton Whitley. Reid also said the Chiefs had released defensive tackle Cortez Broughton from their practice squad and signed running back Wayne Gallman in a corresponding move.