The Kansas City Chiefs closed training camp Thursday with another significant injury development ahead of their preseason matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Head coach Andy Reid revealed that defensive end Ashton Gillotte suffered a ruptured plantar fascia during practice Tuesday and will not play Saturday. The injury occurred shortly after Gillotte had worked his way back from a hamstring issue that cost him practice time earlier in camp.
Gillotte enters his second NFL season as an important piece of Kansas City’s defensive line rotation, making the timing particularly frustrating. The Chiefs are already dealing with several injuries as they prepare to leave St. Joseph and turn their full attention toward Tampa Bay.
Reid, however, offered at least some encouragement regarding Gillotte’s outlook.
Andy Reid Announces Ashton Gillotte Injury
Matt Foster of KSHB 41 shared Reid’s diagnosis Thursday along with video of the play on which Gillotte was injured.
“Per Andy Reid, #Chiefs DE Ashton Gillotte suffered a ruptured plantar fascia on this play two days ago,” Foster reported on X.
Gillotte will miss Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay, although Reid indicated the Chiefs are not currently viewing the injury as a long-term problem.
It is another setback in an eventful training camp for the 23-year-old defensive end.
Gillotte previously suffered a hamstring strain on July 31. He missed multiple practices before eventually returning and was back on the field earlier this week.
Now Kansas City will once again have to proceed without him.
Chiefs Dealing With Multiple Injuries Before Buccaneers Game
Gillotte was a third-round pick out of Louisville in the 2025 NFL Draft and appeared in 16 games during his rookie season. He recorded 1.5 sacks and 14 solo tackles while earning the Chiefs’ Mack Lee Hill Award, which is presented annually to the team’s top rookie or first-year player.
Kansas City will be hoping his latest absence proves temporary.
Gillotte is not the only notable Chief who will miss Saturday’s preseason game. Reid also announced that Patrick Mahomes will remain sidelined, while offensive linemen Trey Smith and Josh Simmons are not expected to play. Smith has been dealing with a hip injury, while Simmons has a back issue.
Justin Fields will start at quarterback and is expected to play into the second quarter.
The Chiefs concluded their 18th and final full-team training camp practice Thursday. They now turn their attention toward the Buccaneers before wrapping up the preseason against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 28.
Kansas City would certainly prefer to leave St. Joseph healthier.
For Gillotte, the immediate priority becomes another rehabilitation process after his training camp took an unfortunate turn just days after he returned to the field.
