Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. ruled questionable to return versus Bills

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. is questionable to return to Sunday night’s Divisional round matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Gay, who was playing spy on quarterback Josh Allen in the first quarter, suffered a neck injury.

The Chiefs defense took hits on back-to-back series with cornerback Trent McDuffie also exiting the game with an apparent ankle injury. They lead 13-10 following a touchdown from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce in the second quarter.

LB Willie Gay is questionable to return with a neck injury.

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 22, 2024

A second-round pick out of Mississippi State, Gay has spent his entire four-year career in Kansas City. However, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He indicated after the Chiefs’ wild card round win over the Dolphins that it might have been his last game at Arrowhead.

“It’s looking like Ive probably played my last game in arrowhead,” he wrote after the win. “Damn im going to miss that place. Nothing like it lets go get this Ring to end it the right way.”

If the linebacker does indeed move on to a new team, it would be a huge blow for the Chiefs. Gay has appeared in 57 games with 47 starts over the past four seasons. He has recorded 233 total tackles (17 for loss), five sacks, four interceptions, 19 passes defended, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumbles in his career.

Gay won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs last season, recording eight tackles in the win against Philadelphia. The winner of Sunday’s game between the Chiefs and Bills will move on to face the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday afternoon.

Chiefs-Bills battle for spot against Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens claimed their spot in the AFC Championship Game by dusting the Houston Texans in a game that was never really all that competitive. The Ravens and Texans battled to a 10-10 tie in the first half, then Baltimore ran away with the game in the second half. The Ravens scored three straight touchdowns and then tacked on an additional field goal late to make the final score 34-10.

It will be the first time the Ravens have hosted an AFC Championship Game. The Ravens are making their first AFC Championship Game appearance since 2012, when they beat the New England Patriots to advance to Super Bowl XLVII, which they then won.

Sunday, Jan. 28

AFC Championship Game
(3) Kansas City Chiefs / (2) Buffalo Bills at (1) Baltimore Ravens
Site: Baltimore, Md.
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: CBS, Paramount+
Point Spread: TBD

NFC Championship Game
(3) Detroit Lions at (1) San Francisco 49ers
Site: San Francisco, Calif.
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Point Spread: San Francisco -7