Chiefs QB Alex Smith Has Lacerated Spleen, Out 6 Weeks

The Kansas City Chiefs announced Friday that starting QB Alex Smith has a lacerated spleen and will miss Sunday’s season finale against the Chargers.

• Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said that Smith is likely to miss six weeks with this injury.
• Chase Daniel will start in place of Smith in Week 17.

Smith reportedly didn’t feel right earlier in week, but still practiced despite the issues. Smith mentioned that taking two days of snaps away from Daniel was something he regretted.

The Chiefs do, however, expect Smith to make a full recovery.

Smith sustained the injury during the third quarter of last weekend’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers while throwing to Albert Wilson.

Kansas City is still alive for a playoff spot, but they need a win to go along with losses from the Ravens and Texans, so the odds are clearly against them, especially when you consider that San Diego is also fighting to secure a spot as well.

Smith, 30, is in the first year of his $76 million contract. The deal contains $45 million guaranteed. He has a base salary of $11.9 million for the 2015 season.

If this ends up being the end for Smith in 2014, he will have finished with 3,265 yards passing while completing 65.3 percent of passes to go along with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.