The Kansas City Chiefs are making a couple of changes to their roster ahead of Wednesday's Christmas Day game.
Per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport: "The #Chiefs have placed LB Jack Cochrane on Injured Reserve and designated TE Peyton Hendershot (calf) to return to practice from IR."
Hendershot was placed on IR four weeks ago after going down in Nov. 24's narrow victory over the Carolina Panthers. Prior to the injury, the third-year TE had caught three balls for 26 yards.
Meanwhile, Cochrane suffered a serious ankle injury on Kansas City's first kick return against the Texans over the weekend. After leaving the game, he was initially given a questionable tag but was quickly downgraded to out by the time the second quarter rolled around.
Head coach Andy Reid said the 25-year-old South Dakota alum has an ankle fracture and it wouldn't be much of a surprise to learn that it eventually ends his season. Cochrane has logged five tackles and had appeared in all 15 of KC's game to this point.
In other injury-related news, Patrick Mahomes says his ankle is "in a lot better place" going into the team's upcoming game against the Steelers than it was even a few days ago.
"We haven't done a ton as far as getting out there on the practice field," the Chiefs QB told reporters Monday. "... But I thought, all in all, I came out pretty well."
"Obviously the body's going to be sore just with a short week and everything like that," Mahomes added. "But I think the ankle should be in a better place. We'll see in practice, but as far as how I felt after this game compared to the one before, I'm definitely in a lot better place."
Kansas City will look to improve to 15-1 with a win on the holiday and potentially lock up that No. 1 seed and homefield advantage in the AFC playoffs.
