Kansas City Chief' wide receiver Chris Chambers' strong play in the second half of last season earned him a new three-year, $15 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. But he's not having the same kind of impact so far this season and didn't even suit up for the team's last two games because of a coaching decision.
Chambers dislocated a finger during Kansas City's Oct. 10 game at Indianapolis but returned to play in the game against the Colts.
He was subsequently inactive for the Chiefs' Oct. 17 game at Houston and last Sunday's home game against Jacksonville, moves that he told the Kansas City Star left him surprised and frustrated. The inactivity also reminded him of his long, slow fall from grace in San Diego, which released him last November, leading to his mid-season signing last year by the Chiefs.
"You kind of don't know what the coaches are thinking," Chambers told the Star. "Or what their expectations are of you and where their confidence is."
Meanwhile, Chiefs' Head Coach Todd Haley said that Chambers could have played if he had to with the finger injury but that he wouldn't have been able to help much on special teams and that was a key consideration in his game-day status.
"We need everybody, and when one guy's maybe not 100 percent, we have opportunities to get other guys into the mix and playing and developing," Haley said.
In Sunday's 42-20 win over Jacksonville, young wideout Verran Tucker was active over Chambers. Tucker helped the Chiefs snap their two-game skid, contributing on both offense and special teams.
But Haley said his hope is that Chambers will be ready soon, possibly by this Sunday, when the Chiefs host the winless Buffalo Bills.
"He's fighting through a little something that for receivers is critical, but Chris is going to be back," Haley said.
Haley said he continues to have high expectations for Chambers, who has only seven catches for 76 yards in four games.
"Chris came in mid-year last year, which is always difficult, and was a big part of us making progress in the second half (of 2009)," Haley said. "He came into this off-season, worked hard, got himself ready to go, came out and has played and was part of us winning three (straight) games.
"His arrow is still pointing up," Haley added. "I've been real clear to Chris that I want this to be the best year he's ever had. Unfortunately, he had a little setback, but like I said, he'll be back and I believe contributing in a big way. I know it means a lot to him and it hurt him a bunch not being able to play and contribute physically. But I was also very impressed with how he handled himself."
Chris Chambers Looks to Rebound from Dislocated Finger
Oct 27, 2010 – 9:21 AM
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