KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Josh Gordon has had minimal impact since joining the Kansas City Chiefs two months ago. The veteran wide receiver has eight targets with four catches for 27 yards and a touchdown in nine games since returning to the NFL after a one-season absence.
Gordon might play a much bigger role Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium if Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill aren't available. The two are among 11 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list for the Chiefs and did not practice Wednesday.
"The confidence I have in him is because he's done it before," quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of Gordon, who missed last week's game against the Los Angeles Chargers after going on the COVID list. He returned to practice Wednesday.
"He's been able to go out there and produce at a high level in this league. He still has the talent. He still has the work ethic. Now it's about going out there and getting more opportunities. Hopefully we're able to get Travis and Tyreek back. If not. we have other guys that can step up and kind of take on those roles ... and we'll find a way to make up for that production that we're missing."
Kelce and Hill this season combined for 50% of the Chiefs' catches, 54% of their receiving yards and 53% of their receiving touchdowns. Each has a chance to play Sunday.
"All we can do is have guys step up," Mahomes said of the possibility that neither one will be available on Sunday. "We have a lot of great guys in this locker room, and I have full trust in them that they can get the job done and hopefully find a way to get a win on Sunday.
"We haven't really changed much. There are obviously some routes that Tyreek and Trav can run that no one else in this world really can. But we've got the guys to do it. We've got the speed. We've got the playmakers. I'm going to keep trusting them. Hopefully we have Trav and Tyreek back, but if not, we'll be ready to go."
Mahomes said he believed both players could be effective Sunday even if they don't practice at all this week.
"Those guys have gotten a lot of reps with me and within this offense," he said. "Obviously, it's a very complex defense we're facing on Sunday, but they've played [the Steelers] a couple of times before I was here. As long as they're healthy, they're safe and they've passed the protocols and they're back, we'll throw them right back in the offense and they'll have the roles they've always had."