Kansas City Chiefs Branden Albert only has hyperextended knee
Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Branden Albert (76) during the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Chiefs defeated the Eagles 26-16. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Chiefs star left tackle Branden Albert went down during yesterday’s game against the Denver Broncos with a knee injury, and it didn’t look good when it first went down. Albert was forced to leave the game in a cart, and you could only fear the worst when Albert was carted off the field. At the time, it looked like Albert may have suffered a season-ending knee injury, but it was later reported that Albert likely avoided a serious injury that could have very well ended his season.
According to Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid stated that Branden Albert is day-to-day with a hyperextended knee, and it will be interesting to see if he is able to play this week against the Washington Redskins. If he isn’t, then my guess is that Donald Stephenson will step in as the Chiefs starter at left tackle. Although Geoff Schwartz is the much better player and should honestly start over Jeff Allen at guard, Schwartz is more of a power-blocker and is thus a better fit at guard or even at right tackle (he’s also much more familiar with playing on the right side).
It’s great to hear that Albert has indeed dodged a bullet with just a hyperextended knee, since we were all holding our breaths when we received word that Albert would be rolling in for an MRI this morning. My gut feeling is that he won’t play this week, but he should be up and at ’em going forward.