The Kansas City Chiefs are getting prepared to face the Denver Broncos in the regular-season finale at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Week 18.

While the team is locked in and focused on the Broncos, they’re also looking ahead to the playoffs, having already clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Chiefs HC Andy Reid said that the team could see a few more reinforcements through an injured reserve return designation for the playoffs. The team currently has nine players on the injured reserve list, dealing with various ailments.

Asked specifically about WRs Mecole Hardman, Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice, and CB Jaylen Watson’s chances of return, Reid confirmed that only two of those players could potentially return for the playoffs.

“There’s a chance with Mecole (Hardman) and potentially (Jaylen) Watson,” Reid said. “I mean, potentially, you know, that would be stretching it, the whole thing. But the other two, no.”

Hardman suffered an undisclosed knee injury during practice, which eventually resulted in his placement on injured reserve. The injury required surgery, but it’s unclear for what, and we previously didn’t have any sort of timeline for his potential return. Hardman, of course, caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers last year.

Watson suffered a leg fracture in his ankle in Week 7. He recently resumed running and has been posting his progress on social media. There has been a slight glimmer of hope that Watson could return for a deep postseason run, and Reid is keeping that alive with his comments.

Unfortunately, any rumors of return for WRs Rashee Rice and Skyy Moore have been greatly exaggerated. Rice suffered a season-ending knee injury back in Week 4 in a friendly-fire incident with QB Patrick Mahomes. Moore was placed on injured reserve with a core muscle injury shortly after the team acquired WR DeAndre Hopkins in a trade.

Thankfully, the Chiefs recently saw WR Hollywood Brown return from injured reserve. His return has helped transform the offense into what many thought it could be at the onset of the 2024 NFL season before injury struck their receiver room.