The Chiefs will be without its top wide receiver in a pivotal Week 11 matchup against the AFC West rival Chargers.
Kansas City ruled JuJu Smith-Schuster out for the "Sunday Night Football" clash with a concussion. Smith-Schuster leads all Chiefs wide receivers with 46 catches for 615 yards, and has caught a pair of touchdowns on the year. Tight end Travis Kelce (63 catches, 740 yards, eight touchdowns) leads the receiving triple crown in Kansas City this year.
Chiefs ruled out WR JuJu Smith-Schuster for Sunday night’s game in LA; also down Mecole Hardman, who was placed on IR.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 18, 2022
Between Smith-Schuster's injury and Mecole Hardman being placed on injured reserve, Patrick Mahomes will be missing two of his top four leading receivers this year against a Chargers team that played them to a narrow 27-24 Chiefs win in Week 2 of the season in Kansas City.
MORE: Kadarius Toney calls hit that injured Smith-Schuster a 'dirty play'
Why won't Smith-Schuster play on Sunday? Here's a look at the injury that caused him to miss the game.
What happened to JuJu Smith-Schuster?
In the second quarter of Kansas City's 27-17 win against the Jaguars, Smith-Schuster caught a pass on a crossing route over the middle of the field and was hit hard by Jacksonville defensive back Andre Cisco.
— highlight heaven (@lowlightheaven) November 13, 2022
Smith-Schuster laid on the ground for several minutes, and was later placed in concussion protocol. Since he was not cleared from the protocol before Sunday, he will not be able to play.
MORE: Explaining the NFL's concussion protocol
It appeared Cisco would be flagged for the hit, but officials picked up the flag. Referee Brad Rogers said in a pool report officials believed it was not a use-of-helmet foul.
"Two officials came in and determined the defender had set and braced for impact and hit shoulder-into-shoulder," Rogers said.
Not everyone agreed with the decision to pick up the flag. CBS rule analyst Gene Steratore said Smith-Schuster should have been considered a defenseless player, and that it should have been a penalty.
A player is defenseless if they're incapable of avoiding/warding off impending contact from an opponent. Forcible contact to a defenseless player's head/neck area with a helmet/shoulder/forearm is a penalty. In my opinion, this is a penalty.#JAXvsKC pic.twitter.com/oe6IKnFlT2
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) November 13, 2022
MORE: How will Chiefs use Kadarius Toney?
Steratore was not alone. Chiefs receiver Kadarius Toney called out the play, saying he doesn't like "dirty plays." Patrick Mahomes said that while he didn't think there was any ill intent, he did believe helmet-to-helmet contact was made, and that those plays need to be eliminated from the league, according to ProFootballTalk.
Cisco defended the play, per Sports Illustrated, saying that it was "up to the referees" and that he felt he was "leading with my shoulder," though acknowledging that the play was "close."
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said he wants his players to "play hard, to play aggressive and play within the rules," according to the Associated Press.
"That's what we've got to do," Pederson said. "You don't want to take the physicality away from anybody. This is a game where you have to play snap-to-whistle. You never want to hurt anybody, but you want to keep the aggressiveness."
