NFL Notes: Chiefs, Giants, Jaguars

Chiefs

Chiefs HC Andy Reid was asked if we could see rookie QB Patrick Mahomes make his NFL debut next week.

“We’ll get through Christmas and then we’ll get on with that,” Reid said, via the Kansas City Star.

Alex Smith said that he doesn’t think the limited reps Mahomes has received throughout the season would be all that big of an issue for him if he were to play next week.

“I think on the mental side he’s obviously watching and mentally observing and (taking) mental reps,” Smith said. “But throughout the week, limited reps. He’s running the (scout) team and obviously trying to prepare as much as he can to get ready.

“So he hasn’t seen live bullets since camp … so in a sense it’s been a while. But I’ve said this all along, he’s a pretty natural player.”

Giants

Giants interim HC Steve Spagnuolo told reporters after Sunday’s game that they planned to give CB Eli Apple some work in their dime package. However, it didn’t work out, as Apple didn’t play a single defensive snap.

“I left that to the defensive coaches. He was going to get in there in some dime situations,” Spagnuolo said, via NJ.com. “The guys that have been in there have been playing together for a little bit, the continuity has been good. We probably need to try to get him in there, but we’ll see how this week goes and we’ll make that decision.”

• Spagnuolo announced that Eli Manning will start Week 17’s season finale: “Eli will start, and then we’ll probably take it bit by bit. We just take it and see how it goes.”
• According to Spagnuolo, S Landon Collins has a fracture in his forearm.
• Meanwhile, TE Evan Engram has a rib injury and WR Sterling Shepard left the game with a neck injury.

Jaguars

Jaguars CB Aaron Colvin offered some support for QB Blake Bortles after he threw three interceptions in their 44-33 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.

“Personally, I’m still riding with 5,” Colvin said, via ESPN.com. “I have all the confidence in the world. I know he’s going to play perfect when we need him to play perfect. Everybody has a bad game. I know him. I know his competitive drive, and I know he’ll come back next week and dominate.”