CASSEL’S WEEK 2 STATUS STILL UNCERTAIN

Kansas City Chiefs’ QB Matt Cassel missed the first game of the NFL regular season, and his status remains questionable for the team’s second game of the year against the Oakland Raiders.  Although he appeared to be running more briskly and favoring his knee less in practice this week, Chiefs’ coach Todd Haley maintains that he’s still a ‘game time decision’.  The Chiefs’ offense has looked pitiful ever since preseason and their ineptitude cost coordinator Chan Gailey his job.  In addition to playing without their starting quarterback, Kansas City is woefully lacking in playmaking wide receivers.

The bright spot in all of his misery was the play of Brodie Croyle in the opening week loss to Baltimore. Croyle completed 16 of 24 passes for 177 yards and two TDs against the fearsome Ravens’ defense.  Still, Haley is anxious to get his #1 quarterback in the lineup and says that Cassel is working hard to make that a reality:

"Matt is doing everything he can to be ready. I would hope I would know a little sooner this week, although right now I can't give a definitive answer. But the player's doing everything he can to be ready, which generally helps speed the healing process."

Haley also spoke of the team’s struggles to find dependable wide receivers:

"We're looking and digging all the time. If there's somebody out there we think makes us better, we're going to do what's necessary to get that done.  I'm looking for guys that do it the way we want it done. Talent is the great separator. There may be some guys who are doing everything the way we want it done, but maybe they're just not good enough. Then there's some guys who potentially can be really good, but they're not doing it the way we want it done.”

"I want physical receivers just like I want physical players at every other position and guys that help block in the run game and are football players, not just pass-catchers."

That comment was a thinly veiled reference to the team’s top receiver, Dwayne Bowe, who was demoted to third string in the preseason—reportedly for a bad attitude and poor work ethic.

Cassel, who has improved from limping slightly to looking relatively steady on his injured knee over the course of the week, commended his backup on his performance:

"I think Brodie played the type of game he had to play to give us a chance to win.”

After facing the Raiders on Sunday, the Chiefs face a pair of tough NFC East opponents as they take on the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles in successive weeks.  Several reports suggest that Haley is now weighing his options and trying to decide whether Cassel would benefit more from an extra week of rehab or getting a game under his belt against a less formidable opponent.