NEWS FLASH: Chiefs reveal latest injury update on two key players this afternoon

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he’s unsure whether injured linebacker Nick Bolton will return to the Chiefs for Sunday’s home game against the Buffalo Bills.

Bolton, who hurt his wrist on Oct. 22 and later had surgery, has not played in the Chiefs’ last five games. He returned to team practices last week.

“I know he’s chomping at the bit to get back in there and play,” Reid said Monday. “So we’ll see — we’ll see how it goes for this week. He will be a week better, though. I know that. We’ll just see how it works out in these next couple of days.”

Bolton’s timeline potentially became more important following the Chiefs’ Sunday loss to the Green Bay Packers.

KC linebacker Drue Tranquill — Bolton’s replacement at middle linebacker — left Sunday’s game in the first quarter with a concussion and didn’t return.

“It’s too bad about Drue. He’s been doing a phenomenal job for us and just took a knee to the side of the head. You probably saw that,” Reid said. “And so, fast recovery for him we hope.”

Tranquill being down on the field for a few minutes also impacted his teammates emotionally.

“Man, I almost cried out there,” Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay said. “At first, you’re thinking, ‘OK, he’s about to pop up.’ Then you see him stay there a little longer, it’s like, ‘Ah, shoot.’”

Jack Cochrane, a second-year player with 35 defensive snaps for the Chiefs all season, filled in for Tranquill the rest of the game.

Reid was also asked about safety Bryan Cook, who was carted off in the second half with a left ankle injury. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Monday morning that Cook’s X-rays came back negative, saying Cook “did not break his ankle.”

Reid generally spoke about Cook’s condition when asked about Fowler’s report.

“He’s had work done on the ankle before. And so that’s kind of what they’re going through right now,” Reid said. “Before anything’s put out there … I don’t want to give you anything either way on that (injury prognosis), because I don’t know because of the work that he’s had done on that ankle. So, let me just kind of save that for later (until) I can give it to you — the facts.”