Overview
- Chiefs coach Andy Reid confirmed on Thursday that Gillotte suffered a ruptured plantar fascia and receiver Jeff Caldwell has a hyperextended knee.
- ESPN and team sources said the Chiefs are initially optimistic Gillotte could return in about three weeks, but outside analysis warns plantar fascia ruptures can take roughly three months to heal.
- Caldwell is expected to miss multiple weeks and could start the season on injured reserve, a loss that mostly affects the team’s receiver depth and practice-squad plans.
- Kansas City plans to reassign defensive end snaps to Felix Anudike-Uzomah and rookie R. Mason Thomas if Gillotte is sidelined, with coordinator Steve Spagnuolo likely to favor the veteran in early snaps.
- A plantar fascia rupture is a tear of the connective tissue under the foot that usually doesn’t require surgery but heals at variable rates, so the Chiefs will track Gillotte’s rehab before finalizing the roster picture.