After a 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs have boosted their playoff odds to 66%. The locker room is buzzing with energy, and the Chiefs Kingdom is fired up for more action. But hold on. This is the 2025 regular season’s final stretch, and nothing is guaranteed, especially when the team is dealing with injuries. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes knows that.

“Everyone is banged up at this time of the year,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday. “But you’ve got to be able to fight through that and play your best football.”

Well, it looks like Thanksgiving is shaping up to be a tough test for the Chiefs. They will be facing the surging Cowboys while trying to navigate key injuries on their roster.

Patrick Mahomes is dealing with a groin strain himself, but has still participated fully in practice on Monday and Tuesday. On the offensive front, Mahomes’ top targets, Rashee Rice (hamstring) and Xavier Worthy (ankle), were limited in practice on Monday, though they were available for full practice the next day.

TE Noah Gray, guard Trey Smith, and CB Chris Roland-Wallace’s status remains out because of a concussion, ankle injury, and back injury, respectively.

No player has been listed as questionable. In fact, none of the players below has been given any designation yet.

• LB Leo Chenal, Knee

• DE George Karlaftis, Thumb

• QB Patrick Mahomes, Groin

• RB Isaiah Pacheco, Knee

• WR Rashee Rice, Hamstring

• RT Jawaan Taylor, Knee

• WR Xavier Worthy, Ankle

However, when you look at the roster situation closely, these are not the only setbacks coach Andy Reid is dealing with. He has got a couple of replacements to fill the void.

Andy Reid could miss key players, but the depth chart looks promising

According to coach Reid, neither Gray nor Smith was scheduled to hit the practice field on Monday.

“Noah Gray and Trey Smith will not practice today, per Andy Reid,” FOX’s Harold R. Kuntz wrote on his X.

In place of Smith, veteran lineman Mike Caliendo is expected to start at right guard and has had sufficient playtime this season. In 119 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed 11 pressures and one sack. His performance will be crucial for coach Reid to have a breakthrough against the Cowboys.

“He knows everything,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. “He’s a guy who came in every day at practice. I think back to training camp and just how focused he was.

“You go back to last year, not just the Super Bowl, but before that in the playoffs. He’s valuable for us, so we have a lot of trust in him.”

Meanwhile, Gray’s status now depends on how he progresses through each step of the concussion protocol. So, his return will be closely monitored.

In case he does not return, veteran star Robert Tonyan will be elevated to No. 2, adding more depth to the tight end room. He did not receive enough playing time on the field this season. It was against the Broncos that he showed up last time and only made a one-yard reception.

When it comes to wideouts, all eyes will be on JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Royals, and Tyquan Thornton. Instead of Leo Chenal in the defense, undrafted rookie Cooper McDonald will have to step up at linebacker.

With a brutal stretch of must-win games ahead, a healthy roster is the key to making the playoffs.