KC Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton could miss ‘months’ with wrist injury: report

The Kansas City Chiefs will likely be without star linebacker Nick Bolton for an extended time.

Bolton dislocated his wrist during Sunday’s 31-17 home victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. When asked for any updates on Bolton’s status Monday afternoon, Chiefs coach Andy Reid didn’t give specifics.

“Those guys are working through all that now,” Reid said. “We’ll have that for you later today or whenever.”

Early NFL reports don’t appear encouraging.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday that Bolton’s injury would require surgery. Pelissero cited a source who said the linebacker was expected to miss “roughly two months.”

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler later added Bolton’s surgery is scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles. Fowler said his source stated the injury was not expected to be season-ending.

Still, if those timelines hold, a best-case scenario would be Bolton returning to the team around the end of the regular season.

It’s the second injury of the year for Bolton, who injured his ankle in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars before missing three games. In four contests this season, Bolton has 28 tackles and an interception.

The third-year player, who the Chiefs selected with a second-round pick in 2021, set a new team record for tackles with 180 last season.

Offseason free-agent signing Drue Tranquill filled in at middle linebacker during Bolton’s previous absence this season. Tranquill played 100% of KC’s defensive snaps in two of the three games that Bolton missed.

Jack Cochrane — primarily a special-teams player — also could see his playing time increase with Bolton sidelined.