KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Early in the second quarter, Kansas City Chiefs starting middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens left the game with an upper-body injury.
On the first drive after the Chiefs took a 10-3 lead on Harrison Butker’s 52-yard field goal, Hitchens was injured attempting to tackle tight end John Bates.
Hitchens, who was taken to the locker room for examination, was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play, which helped the Washington Football Team drive down the field for another Dustin Hopkiins field goal.
Initially, he was questionable to return with an elbow injury, but Kansas City downgraded Hitchens to out at halftime.
WR Tyreek Hill is questionable to return with a quad injury.
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 17, 2021
LB Anthony Hitchens has been downgraded to out. https://t.co/CNIYBoL0iH
Entering the Week 6 matchup in Washington, Hitchens led all Chiefs linebackers with 260 snaps this season.
He also calls the defense on the field, a critical role for a defense that has struggled to get lined up and communicate at times this season.
Through five games in 2021, all starts, Hitchens had 31 tackles, including two for a loss, with a pass deflected and one quarterback hit.
Only safety Daniel Sorenson, who lost his starting free safety spot this week, entered the game with more tackles on the season (35).
Hitchens had one tackle before leaving the game.
