When the Chiefs announced that quarterback Matt Cassel underwent an appendectomy Wednesday, they added that they expect Cassel to “return to work” this week.
“Returning to work” is one thing. Will he start against the Chargers Sunday in the biggest game the Chiefs have played since Larry Johnson and Herm Edwards faced the Colts in the playoffs?
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Cassel is “50-50" to play this week. According to Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star, the Chiefs are “looking at a best-case scenario of losing Cassel for at least two weeks.”
Teicher notes that Ben Roethlisberger underwent an emergency appendectomy in 2006, and missed the season opener four days later. He played in Pittsburgh’s next game, which came 15 days after Big Ben’s surgery. (There was a long gap between the games because the Steelers opened on a Thursday.)
Big Ben’s timeline would indicate Cassel is unlikely to play this week, but would have a shot to play against the Rams in Week Fifteen.
Kansas City was already considered a heavy underdog by Vegas this week, but Cassel’s absence shouldn’t crush them. Backup Brodie Croyle has a nice mix of talent and experience for a quarterback that should be entering his prime.
