My NFL Forums | NFL Forums & Blogs

It was familiar and troubling, another Chiefs starting quarterback being helped off the field because of an injury. And there was Kansas City, turning to Tyler Thigpen again as the replacement.

Matt Cassel was supposed to be the answer. The Chiefs traded for him in March, signed him to a big contract in June, and hoped he’d emerge as something the team didn’t have last year: a healthy, reliable quarterback with a bright future.

Now, the questions are back.

“I don’t think we’re going to be a high-powered group right now,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said.

Cassel was helped to the locker room after the Chiefs’ third offensive play in a 14-10 loss to Seattle on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane sacked Cassel from behind, and Cassel fell to the turf grabbing his left leg. He got up slowly but rejoined the huddle before calling a timeout and being helped to the locker room. He never returned to the Chiefs’ sideline, and Haley wouldn’t discuss Cassel’s condition or the team’s other injured players, cornerback Brandon Flowers and wide receiver Devard Darling. All those players left the Chiefs locker room Saturday night without speaking to reporters.

The team announced that Cassel had a leg injury and that his return was questionable. The injuries to Flowers and Darling helped spoil the Chiefs’ preseason home finale and threw a shadow over Kansas City’s hopes of dramatic improvement after two miserable seasons.

“A step back,” Haley said. “It was a real struggle out there.”

Cassel’s injury was something Kansas City couldn’t afford. Cassel was more valuable than the $28 million guaranteed contract he signed two months ago: He was the future. Cassel was supposed to be the quarterback the Chiefs had waited decades for, and even if he couldn’t become Len Dawson, he at least wouldn’t be Brodie Croyle or Damon Huard.

It was Croyle and Huard who couldn’t stay healthy last year, their season-ending injuries contributing to the Chiefs’ franchise-worst 2-14 record. Croyle, who once faced expectations similar to the ones Cassel faces now, injured his shoulder in the first week last year and then blew out a knee six weeks later in his first game back. Huard suffered a series of mysterious injuries and was placed on injured reserve after the seventh week.

The Chiefs had no choice then but to turn to Thigpen. He had his moments last year, but he didn’t do enough that the Chiefs felt comfortable entering another season with him as the starter. Instead, they acquired Cassel and spent part of the offseason beefing up their offensive line — a project that, if Saturday’s contest was an indication, requires lots more work.

“There was a lot more in terms of offense that we needed to clean up,” right tackle Damion McIntosh said.

That’s after the Chiefs traded for two more linemen last week, sending an undisclosed 2010 draft pick to Miami for what Kansas City hoped would be some insurance on a line that caused worry in last week’s game at Minnesota, and proof Saturday that protecting the Chiefs’ quarterback will be a tall order in 2009.

Cassel’s injury happened early enough Saturday that the Chiefs’ night, weekend and maybe the season were soured, but they still hoped to salvage something. The defense looked ready to take a much-needed step forward. Top draft pick Tyson Jackson had a sack and a tipped pass that turned into Flowers’ interception, which he returned 28 yards for a touchdown.

Then, Flowers was injured, too, and left in the first quarter. Darling hurt his knee in the second quarter and was helped to the locker room. The Chiefs didn’t announce the injuries or status of Flowers or Darling.

Where to turn? The Chiefs wanted to learn something about themselves in their third game, the contest that Haley said would end the toughest week of the entire season. It was tougher than he might have predicted.

“Right now,” Haley said, “we’re through three preseason games without showing the ability to win or finish or do the things in each of the games we need to do to have a chance. But that’s where we’re at.”

Like he was so many times last year, Thigpen was inconsistent and inaccurate at times Saturday, and at other times, he was a playmaker whose improvisations at least kept Seattle uncomfortable. He completed eight of 15 passes for 56 yards and rushed for 10 more yards. He took his share of bumps, the worst coming in the third quarter when he was pushed out of bounds, lost his footing and slammed into some equipment on the Seahawks sideline. As he seemed to always do last year, Thigpen popped up and headed back toward the huddle.

Thigpen left late in the third quarter, giving way to Matt Gutierrez. Thigpen might not have been perfect or accurate — or even dependable — but he proved yet again that he can be something no other Chiefs passer has been recently: healthy.

“We did some good things,” Thigpen said, “and some bad things.”

Haley saw more bad than good.

“When you’re one of 10 on third down,” Haley said, “you’re not getting it done at quarterback. There is just no way. Even if there are breakdowns at other places, it’s the quarterback’s responsibility to move the chains, and there wasn’t much good happening.”

Thigpen was demoted to third-team quarterback during training camp, and he was mentioned last week as a potential trading chip. The Chiefs wanted to get a good look at Thigpen, and they got it Saturday — even if it was more than they were hoping for.

And, as usual, it came at an enormous cost.

By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
Cassel leaves because of injury in Chiefs’ 14-10 loss to the Seahawks - Kansas City Star

__________________