The Thanksgiving clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys is a chance for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid to make history. They haven’t had a Thanksgiving game in nearly two decades, their last one being in 2006. But their outing has just gotten harder with two major setbacks to Coach Reid’s offense. KC’s latest injury report has dropped, and it doesn’t bode well.

“Trey Smith, Noah Gray, and Chris Roland-Wallace are out for Thursday’s game against the Cowboys,” shared the Chiefs’ official X account.

Right guard Trey Smith had suffered a twofold injury against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. During a second-quarter run, Smith got rolled over and suffered a high and low ankle sprain and did not practise this week. Mike Caliendo had taken over his duties in Week 12, and he could be expected to take the same role against the Cowboys. If not, the Chiefs can also have Jaylon Moore shoring up the O-line.

In the same contest, tight end Noah Gray suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter and had to leave. While making a spectacular leaping catch, Gray was driven down on the turf by Colts cornerback Kenny Moore. For a while, it looked like Gray had lost consciousness, but then he came to, and walked off the field. Now, as he navigates the concussion protocol, we can expect Travis Kelce to shoulder a greater burden.

Meanwhile on the other side of the ball, nickel corner Chris Roland-Wallace also suffered an unexpected setback. He was a full participant at practice on Monday, November 24 despite suffering a lower back injury against the Colts. But since then, he had been downgraded to a limited participant on Tuesday, and didn’t practice at all on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see who steps up in his place against Dallas.

But it’s not all bad news. While two major offensive pieces have been taken out for an unforeseeable time from Andy Reid’s playbook, the overall offense has hummed back to life in a major way. And Chiefs’ franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes couldn’t have asked for better weapons by his side for a bit of Thanksgiving glory.

Big boost for Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes on Thursday

Thursday marks the first time the Chiefs go up against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving since 1995. A new generation of the KC offense now has a chance to rewrite that last 24-12 loss. And the injury updates from the offense (the two setbacks aside) are painting quite a hopeful picture.

Week 12 against the Colts wasn’t pretty. Patrick Mahomes had suffered a groin injury, which he played through. But since then, he has been a full participant at practice this week. Wide receiver Rashee Rice had also hurt his hamstring in Week 12. He was a limited participant on Monday, but has been upgraded to full participant since then with no injury designation.

Rookie receiver Xavier Worthy had also been dealing with an ankle injury and was a limited participant on Monday. But he was back in action on Tuesday and Wednesday, and seems good to suit up against Dallas.

One of the biggest offensive boosts will also come in the form of running back Isiah Pacheco returning to the field. He had missed the Chiefs’ last three contests with a knee injury that he suffered back in Week 8 against the Washington Commanders.

Altogether, that’s three major offensive pieces who will work in tandem with Patrick Mahomes on Thursday. The quarterback has expressed his desire to bite into the iconic Thanksgiving dish turducken after a victory. The offensive pieces are there, all that’s left now is for Andy Reid to craft schemes that give KC its 7th win and keep their playoff hopes alive.