NFL Insider Jason La Canfora’s Week 5 NFL Notebook: Chiefs Could Sign ‘More Than One’ Pass Catcher; Dan Quinn in Serious Trouble; More Reps for JJ in New York?

The Chiefs are already on the prowl for wide receiver help in a multitude of avenues, according to multiple NFL executives and that pursuit is expected to lead to significant additions to their roster.

They are dealing with injuries to both of their top downfield threats – Rashee Rice and Tyquann Thornton – out, and willing to take risks in ways not every franchise is.

Thornton was among the NFL leaders in air yards per target and had added new scope to an offense that has been lacking it. Advance scouts believe his presence had a lot to do with aging tight end Travis Kelce finding open seams against zone defenses.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid has GM Brett Veach on the lookout and multiple NFL general managers indicated over the weeks that the Chiefs were among the teams were exploring Cardinals former first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. before he was sent to Houston.

From what we gather, the Chiefs are in the market to add more than one pass catcher and expect them to be as aggressive as any team in the league in terms of adding a playmaker on offense.

They also have more of a stomach for players with significant off-field issues, including their former All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill, who is trying to comeback from injury at a time when he’s continued to have legal problems amid allegations of domestic violence.

“Andy is going to do something,” said one personnel executive who used to work with Reid and has a strong sense of how the coach operates. “He knows (quarterback Patrick) Mahomes needs a deep threat.”

Hill is not thought of very highly in many NFL front offices, with his play waning in recent years. His explosion and quick twitch not as elite; he also remains a locker room issue with an attitude that doesn’t rub people the right away, and then there are the continued off field problems.

Some in the media are pushing narrative that Hill has a market, but people I am talking to about it don’t buy that at all.

They believe it’s much more a case of “the Chiefs or nowhere.” Add on the fact that Hill isn’t even cleared to play, anyway, is not at the top of the list of the reasons why.

“He’s a no-go for us,” said one NFL general manager whose team would also like to add a pass catcher before the season. “Who’s going to sign him with the domestic stuff going on, and the (divorce) trial? No way. Nobody is going to pursue that, except maybe Andy.”

Kansas City might be desperate enough to do it.

Dan Quinn On Borrowed Time at Washington

Dan Quinn won’t be fired in the immediate aftermath of Washington’s 27-27 meltdown against the New York Giants, where they could have kicked a late field goal but lost track of the clock.

The late-game management issues were too acute, and too blatant, in a big divisional game with ever-injured QB Jaylen Daniels just back from an elbow problem. It’s the kind of things owners don’t forget about, ever.

It will catch up to Quinn and people around the league suspect it could happen in season if fan sentiment strongly turns against the affable-but-drowning head coach. “He’s not surviving that,” one GM said over the weekend. “Just a matter of time.”

Everyone is on high alter in a rebuilt coaching staff, and big questions are being asked about the totality of that group, not just Quinn.

Quinn was basically stripped of running the defense, but that unit has been a failure in late situations. Washington is allowing an unheard of 5.5 points per drive in the fourth quarter – no one else is above 3.83 – and 70% of fourth-quarter possessions against them have resulted in TDs (the NFL average is 29%).

Couple that with Daniels a serious injury risk, still, and the walls are closing in.

It Could Be JJ Time Imminently in New York

Look for the Giants to turn to youngster JJ McCarthy for key spots within games with more frequency moving forward.

The Giants run game has bogged down with veteran Jameis Winston, no threat to run or operate an option-based offense, at quarterback, and they need to be quicker to rotate QBs in certain situations.

While second-year running back Cam Skattebo is on every other commercial during NFL broadcasts, multiple evaluators told me he shouldn’t even be on the field more than 5-10 snaps a game.

The idea he can be a feature back, with a guy like Winston at QB, is proving to be folly (and his overtime fumble on Sunday was a killer). McCarthy brings explosion to the run game in a way that former starting QB Jaxson Dart did before his season-ending injury.

“Skattebo is a change-of-pace guy, he can’t be on the field this much,” one advance scout told me even before the Giants run game went backwards against Washington.

“He could come in when you need a yard, let him catch some screens on third down, but this guy can’t be a starting running back in this league.”

Another exec who has watched the Giants closely said: “They don’t have a starting running back. It has to be by committee. Skattebo can’t see this much of the ball. It’s smoke and mirrors they started 3-1.”

Giants run-game coordinator Greg Roman was brought in because of Dart’s skillset. McCarthy has major issues throwing the ball with touch and accuracy, but his presence would alter the way teams defend New York at the line of scrimmage and create some running lanes for others.

When Skattebo was effective, it was in a backfield that forced teams to defend the QB in the run game.

These execs believe Giants coach John Harbaugh will come to this conclusion quickly, and he dabbled with it for a few plays Sunday.

They landed McCarthy over other trade options for a reason and need more multiplicity in the run game (veteran Najee Harris could bump Skattebo, too). Winston keeps rallying in the second half and needs to stay at the helm, with more of a rotation.

Around The League; Vikings, Cardinals, Chargers

The Vikings offense remains in a fog, with the defense carrying them to an undefeated start.

Look for them to start activating Kyler Murray’s legs more in the offense by design; it finally became a point of emphasis in the second half.

This is another team where designed runs for the running backs are going nowhere, and scouts see a need for Murray to add multiplicity to the rushing attack.

As for the Vikings defense, the drumbeat for defensive coordinator Brian Flores to be a head coach in 2027 grows louder and louder among NFL execs. What Flores did to a Saints pass game that has been explosive was pretty nuts (an impossible 3.3 yards/play). On the season the Vikings are allowing a 62.9 QB rating and just 22% third-down conversions.

The Cardinals could make another trade by next week and certainly will complete at least a few more by the deadline a month from now.

Keeping QBs Gardner Minshew and Jacoby Brissett doesn’t make sense on the tanking team, and edge rusher Josh Sweat is coveted by contenders.

Two personnel execs suggested to me the Chargers will peddle a contract or two during the Week 7 bye – pass rusher Khalil Mack is as good as gone as I hear it, and we wouldn’t be stunned to see them move safety Derwin James if a bidding war emerges.