Chiefs HC Andy Reid makes the right decision on starter playing time for preseason Week 3 vs. Bears

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid played his starters in preseason Week 1 and preseason Week 2 , but he says he's leaning toward sitting them for preseason Week 3 against the Chicago Bears.

"As far as the rotation goes for the Bears," Reid told reporters on Monday. "I'll probably sit the starters the way it looks right now and we'll have the other guys get out there and play. We'll just see how that goes repetition-wise."

Playing the starters through two preseason games has led to a pair of injuries that the team is now dealing with. Hollywood Brown suffered a sternoclavicular joint injury in preseason Week 1, and Reid says his status for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens is in doubt. James Winchester suffered a minor AC Joint injury , which will at the very least keep him out of preseason Week 3. The team has signed a replacement long snapper for the game against Chicago.

It's not uncommon for Reid to give his starters a game off in the final week of the preseason. While injuries are certainly a concern, they're not typically the main concern here. Reid says he makes the decision based on the number of combined snaps that starters have taken between training camp and the preseason.

"Yeah, so, I look at the number of plays between (training) camp and preseason games," Reid said. "We were up some 50 plays from the year before in camp. So, I was able to monitor that and work it in with the preseason games."

With an extended helping of snaps at training camp, Reid thinks his starters have seen more than enough action. Which players are considered "starters" will also be something to watch out for on Thursday. It could reveal how highly regarded a player is or isn't when it comes to the 53-man roster in Kansas City.

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