Latest on the Chiefs’ hobbled linebacker corps + players to watch vs. Miami Dolphins

This week isn’t the time to be without two speedy linebackers, but that’s where the Chiefs may find themselves.

With the Tyreek Hill-led Miami Dolphins as their next opponent, the Chiefs will be without Nick Bolton for a second game and Willie Gay Jr.’s status is uncertain.

Gay was listed on the injury report this week with a lower-back injury suffered in the game at Denver last weekend. He didn’t practice Wednesday but was a limited participant Thursday. Bolton is on the IR with a wrist injury.

“Nick and Willie are speed linebackers — they cover as much ground as anybody in this league,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “We’re just going to have to rely on the guys we put in there.”

Drue Tranquill, who calls plays in Bolton’s absence, has filled in admirably. Jack Cochrane came up with four tackles on a career-high 14 snaps last week against the Broncos. Leo Chanel has made big strides in his second season and had a career-best 10 tackles last weekend.

Also, the Chiefs signed Darius Harris to the practice squad this week, and he could be elevated to the active roster. Harris, who appeared in 28 games for the Chiefs over the past three seasons (and all three postseason games last year) was signed off the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad Tuesday.

“The good think about Darius is he was here,” Spagnuolo said. “He’ll pick up things quickly.”

Here are other players and streaks to watch when the Chiefs face the Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany:

Player to watch: Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu

First downs will be key for the Chiefs’ defense against the NFL’s most productive offense.

“Their offense is big on rhythm,” Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu said. “So when you get negative plays on first down that kind of throws them off.”

The Chiefs recorded six sacks and seven tackles for losses against the Broncos last week. Omenihu was credited with a half-sack and has been in on more than 50% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps in his first two games since returning from an NFL suspension.

Something to keep an eye on: The Chiefs lead the NFL in batted-down passes, with 14. Having tall defensive linemen like the Omenihu (6-foot-5), Chris Jones (6-6), George Karlaftis (6-4) helps the pass defense even when a play doesn’t end with sack.

Player to watch: Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker

Baker has amassed 22 1/2 sacks in his six-year career, all with the Dolphins.

But are any more memorable than his takedown of Patrick Mahomes in 2020?

The Chiefs faced a third-and-12 from their own 33-yard line. Baker lined up on the right side, beat tackle Eric Fisher and chased Mahomes, who started retreating and didn’t stop until Baker tripped up Mahomes at the Chiefs’ 3-yard line — a 30-yard sack, at the time the longest in the NFL in five years.

Baker finished with 2 1/2 sacks that day, the best output of his career.

Special teams standout: Chiefs K Harrison Butker

Is placekicker Harrison Butker the Chiefs’ MVP through the first half of the season? He’s made all 18 of his field-goal attempts, setting a club record for most makes without a miss to open the year.

Butker is also perfect on extra points (19 for 19), and if he has a perfect game against the Dolphins, he’ll become the first NFL kicker since 2016 to not miss a kick through the first nine games of the season, averaging one field goal per game.

Streak to watch: Chiefs don’t often skid

The Chiefs don’t often lose back to back games. It’s happened three times in Patrick Mahomes’ first five years as a starter.

The Chiefs followed their opening-game loss to Detroit with a victory at Jacksonville. Kansas City hasn’t lost more than two in a row since 2017.

Unlikely repeat: Blocked field goal

Safety Justin Reid’s blocked field goal last week was the Chiefs’ 18th since 1991.

You’d think such a momentum-swinging play would lead to a high percentage of victory. But Sunday’s loss at the Broncos dropped the Chiefs to 9-8 in blocked field-goal games in that span.

Why 17 games? The Chiefs blocked two in one game. In 2003, Eric Downing and John Browning each got a block in a victory over the San Diego Chargers. (Tip of the cap to Luke Shanno and Kallen Webster of the Chiefs’ communications staff for the research.)