The Kansas City Chiefs took their Week 8, 28-7 win over the Washington Commanders with another dominating performance. But while Patrick Mahomes and the offense had an easy Sunday afternoon, there was an incident that had head coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ locker room squirming. What was to be a tidy victory was made slightly nerve-wracking by injuries to some of the starters, souring an otherwise unforgettable night.

FOX4 Kansas City Sports Anchor Harold R. Kuntz quotes Andy Reid in the aftermath, stating that Isiah Pacheco and Nick Bolton had knee injuries. “I should have told you the injuries, because Pop’s one of those,” Reid indicated. “(Isiah Pacheco) hurt his knee, and (Nick) Bolton likewise hurt his knee, so we’ll just see how they do as we go forward here.” Reid’s comment was cautious, though initial reports suggested the situation might not be as negative.

The injury problem arose in the fourth quarter. Pacheco was hit below the knees by Commanders’ defensive backs Jeremy Reaves and Trey Amos on a nine-yard gain. Briefly afterward, the ESPN broadcast showed Pacheco lying on the training table. He did not return to the field, but his body language said otherwise.

On the other hand, linebacker Nick Bolton, who finished his six tackles, got hit by Omenihu. He was also beset with a knee problem, but remained on the field, and that in itself was a good sign.

Now, both players are expected to get tests after the game to determine the severity of their injuries. Their status for the next matchup will definitely be worth keeping an eye on. The Chiefs head to Buffalo for a Week 9 clash against the Bills at Highmark Stadium, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET. It’s going to be a big one, and everyone’s watching to see if Pacheco and Bolton will be ready to go.

If not, then it might be a concern as Pacheco is the shield Patrick Mahomes needs. After all, he was the leading rusher for the Chiefs on Monday night, where he turned 12 carries into 58 yards. Besides them, a number of players are still on injured reserve, including DT Omarr Norman-Lott, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, LB Brandon George, S Deon Bush, CB Nazeeh Johnson, DE Janarius Robinson, and DB Eric Scott.

Nevertheless, despite the setbacks, Kansas City’s depth has enabled them to be among the best-balanced teams in the league, but it will be how healthy their best players, such as Pacheco and Bolton, remain as the season progresses.

Chiefs’ Josh Simmons update

As reports of injuries reached the front pages of newspapers following Monday’s victory, yet another long-standing issue in the organization surfaced again, and that is the continued absence of offensive lineman Josh Simmons. Chiefs’ owner Clark Hunt finally spoke about it publicly prior to Monday Night Football.

“It’s a private family matter,” said Hunt. “We’ve had good communication with him. There’s an understanding by both parties of where he is & we’re hopeful to have him back with the team sometime in the future.”

Simmons has not been present with the team prior to the Detroit Lions game. The 22-year-old lineman was reported to have gone back home to California. Last week, he was listed on the injury report with an “illness” before Kansas City played the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he still played through it.

Head coach Andy Reid had earlier spoken about Simmons’ status, describing it as due to personal reasons. He went on, “Everything is positive, it’s not a negative situation. He’s taking care of family,” implying the discussion is taking place between the player and team.

The Chiefs have gone about it quietly, honoring players’ privacy. As Kansas City looks to fend off a tough Week 9 showdown with Buffalo, the mettle of this organization, on and off the field, will be tested once again.