Kansas City Chiefs running back LeSean McCoy was a healthy scratch against the Tennessee Titans in Week 10.
There was little indication leading up to the game against the Titans that McCoy would get the week off. Perhaps the writing was on the wall after McCoy lost a crucial fumble in Week 8 against the Packers. The Chiefs turned to Damien Williams in Week 9 as McCoy saw just six snaps.
If we’re to believe Andy Reid’s explanation, McCoy being made inactive had nothing to do with the fumble. Instead, Reid claims to be managing the workload of the 31-year-old running back.
“Yeah, I just thought it was the right thing to do right now,” Reid said after the game. “LeSean’s not getting any younger, so it’s important that I manage him the right way as we go. I just thought it was the right thing to do at this time.”
Basically, Reid chalked missing this game up to McCoy receiving veteran rest. What exactly warrants that rest, though? McCoy did have an ankle injury earlier this season, but he did not appear on the injury report during the week leading up to the Titans game.
As far as the workload is concerned, McCoy has played only 204 snaps this season. His game-high of 32 snaps came against the Detroit Lions in Week 4. Williams has seen 220 total snaps on the season, so it isn’t like McCoy is getting workhorse snaps every week.
Reid wouldn’t commit to a sure plan for McCoy moving forward. It seems there’s something Reid wants to see from him in practice before he returns to the lineup.
“We’ll see,” Reid said. “I’ll just manage him the way that I think is best so that he stays effective throughout the season. That’s not where I’m at right this minute. I’ll get there with him. We’ll see how it goes this week.”
That bit about staying effective has me wondering if Reid isn’t trying to motivate McCoy by making him inactive. It feels strikingly similar to what happened with Reggie Ragland earlier in the season. Reid claimed he was still a starter, yet he was inactive for several weeks before he was eased back in and became a bigger part of the game plan.
Could something like that work with McCoy? We’ll find out when he makes his return, which could be as early as Monday night in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers in Mexico City.