Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith left his team’s 30-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts twice for potential head injuries, with the second injury knocking him out of the game for good with a concussion and putting his future playing status for the immediate future in doubt. Then he led the Chiefs on an 80-yard touchdown drive early in the second quarter before Smith returned, having cleared the concussion examination.
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The message relayed to the media covering the game in Indianapolis at the time was that Smith wouldn’t return because he had indeed suffered a concussion.
But Smith went out for good in the third quarter when at the end of a scramble he had his head pushed into the turf by defensive back Clayton Geathers. He was replaced by backup Charcandrick West – the team leader in rushing a year ago with 634 yards – who rushed 14 times for 52 yards against the Colts.
Full Chiefs inactive list: RB Jamaal Charles, CB D.J. White, OL Jordan Devey, OL Bryan Witzmann, QB Tyler Bray, TE Ross Travis and LB Sam Barrington.
Smith’s wife, Elizabeth Smith, was done looking at the tweets by the meteorologist and snapped on him. Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis and right tackle Joe Reitz both left with concussions and did not return. We’ll show up one week and the next week we’ll come back and take two steps back. In relief of Smith, Foles threw for 223 passing yards and two touchdowns. “I would never do that, whether it’s run-pass option or not”.
Ware, who has rushed 102 times for 511 yards and two touchdowns, rushed seven times for 19 yards on Sunday.
“I know we just have to look at ourselves in the mirror, every man, and be real with ourselves”, running back Frank Gore said.
It started on the sideline, as Chiefs who are suspected of being concussed are administered a five-question “Maddocks Test” by team physicians Mike Monaco and Cris Barnthouse and an unaffiliated, independent neurotrauma consultant.
Foles said it was the first time in his six National Football League seasons that he was asked to come in as a backup twice in the same game. And still they were the more organized, efficient and productive team, rolling up 422 yards against the Colts’ purported defense.
“Right now, it feels like we’ve moved backwards this weekend”, he said. Both No. 3 Clemson and No. 4 Washington won road games against ranked teams Saturday.
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Luck answered with his finest play of the game, avoiding a tackler and throwing a laser to Moncrief – who leapt and made an outstanding catch – for a 3-yard touchdown to cut the deficit back to 10 points with 2:05 to play in the third. That prompted Hilton to return in the fourth quarter, at which time he deftly caught a punt and returned it 5 yards. Next, Andrew Luck and the Colts will travel to Green Bay to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. KC also lost starting left guard Parker Ehinger (knee).
