The Kansas City Chiefs ended their short two-game skid on Sunday with a win over the hopeless New England Patriots. However, they lost another offensive skill player to the injured reserve (IR). Per NFL insider Ari Melrov, the Chiefs have placed wide receiver Skyy Moore on the IR.
The #Chiefs have placed WR Skyy Moore on IR, ending his regular season. pic.twitter.com/zmdtctkIX6
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 18, 2023
Moore left Sunday with a knee injury and will miss the rest of the regular season. He collected three targets in the last two games, failing to record a reception. Fellow wide receiver Mecole Hardman is also on the injured reserve.
Kansas City Chiefs WR Skyy Moore: Former Top Pick
Moore, the 54th pick by the Chiefs in the 2022 NFL draft, has struggled to live up to the hype during his two-year professional career. The Western Michigan product played in 16 games as a rookie, including earning three starts. Moore finished the 2022 campaign with 22 receptions for 250 yards and no scores. However, with the departure of lead wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster during the offseason, the expectation was for Moore to take on a more significant role in 2023.
He has struggled to stand out this season, posting 21 receptions for 244 yards and one touchdown in 14 games. His snap count has nearly doubled this season, but he has seen a dip in catch and success rate. Moore’s best game of the season came in Week 2, with the five-foot-ten wideout snagging three passes for 70 yards and a score.
Kansas City Chiefs: Wide Receiver Room Sans Moore
The Chiefs were already fazing Moore out of the offensive gameplan, meaning the AFC West club should continue leaning on rookie Rashee Rice and veteran Justin Watson. Rice played 92% of the snaps on Sunday and remains quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ best option among the wideouts. Rice has played well over the past four games, tallying 32 receptions for 334 yards and three scores during that span. Meanwhile, Watson is amid a career year. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout has already set new career marks in receptions and yards.
The Chiefs also have Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney in the receiver room. However, both wide receivers have received their fair share of criticism this season. Valdes-Scantling dropped the would-be winning touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11. At the same time, Toney got hit with an offensive offsides penalty late in the Chiefs Week 14 loss, negating a touchdown.
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