Chiefs’ JuJu Smith-Schuster remains in concussion protocol as team returns to practice

The Chiefs returned to practice Wednesday without multiple players ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said that wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion), wide receiver Mecole Hardman (abdomen), wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (illness) and cornerback Chris Lammons (concussion) would not practice.

Smith-Schuster suffered the concussion Sunday on a controversial hit, which the officials on the field ruled was a shoulder-to-shoulder collision. Video replays appeared to show a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andre Cisco on Smith-Schuster.

Reid said he was told by the officials during the game it was shoulder-to-shoulder, but he hasn’t heard or received clarification from the NFL on the play.

“I haven’t heard from the league yet,” Reid said. “They’ll give us our report here.”

Smith-Schuster and Lammons are required to pass the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol before either is allowed to return to football activities.

The five-step protocol calls for limited activity, aerobic exercise, football-specific exercises and non-contact drills, and then full football activities — that last step attainable only after medical clearance by a team doctor and an independent neurological consultant.

“You take it day by day,” Reid said. “We’ll be cautious with it. We’re not going to do anything that you shouldn’t do, according to what the data shows and how he feels.”

Hardman, who didn’t play in Week 10, continues to miss practice with his abdomen issue and his status for Sunday’s game against the Chargers is unclear.

“He’s getting better but not back yet,” Reid said.

The absences of Smith-Schuster, Hardman and Valdes-Scantling means the Chiefs were without three of their top wide receivers for Wednesday’s practice, but Reid didn’t appear overly concerned.

“We’re good,” Reid said. “We’ve got a couple of other guys.”

Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and rookie Skyy Moore are the remaining three wide receivers on the Chiefs’ active 53-player roster, with Marcus Kemp, Cornell Powell and Ihmir Smith-Marsette on the practice squad.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs expected to have right tackle Andrew Wylie on the practice field in some capacity.

“He has his brace on,” Reid said. “He feels pretty good.”

Wylie suffered an elbow injury in Week 10 and didn’t finish the game against Jacksonville. Prince Tega Wanogho filled in at right tackle and played 38 offensive snaps.

The Chiefs later designated Wylie and running back Isiah Pacheco (quad) as full participants in practice. Running back Jerick McKinnon (hamstring, shoulder) and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (knee) were limited.