NFL Rumors: Kansas City Chiefs to Start Nick Foles on Thursday, Alex Smith To Get Waived?

By Carlo Monzon
Nick Foles
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Nick Foles (4) tries to avoid Indianapolis Colts tackle Zach Kerr (94) at Lucas Oil Stadium.  Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs have confirmed that its new starting quarterback will be Nick Foles while Alex Smith is recuperating. But, if Foles manages to outperform Smith again, then the latter could end up getting cut from the team.

As noted by NFL insider Adam Schefter, Foles will serve as the new starting quarterback for the Chiefs. His first game in this position will be against the Jacksonville Jaguars against Week 9. Foles stepped in for Smith last Sunday against the Colts after the latter was sidelined due to an injury.

Although Foles was a former backup, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is confident that he will be able to perform well and continue the team's winning streak.

"He had pretty good numbers," Reid said. "He's got a pretty good feel for the offense. He's been in it before. You know that he will have studied it and he's prepared for the game. He understands how to go about doing that. And he's been a Pro Bowl player before. He's a pretty good football player."

Foles, on the other hand, noted that he's prepared to head into Sunday's game as the new main passer of the team.

"Going in there, there's definitely emotions," he said. "But [the job is to] just run the offense. Coach calls the game. We study together, we go through things together."

As for Smith, the team recently said that he does not have a concussion following the hit he took during the match against the Colts. Although his injury doesn't seem too serious, it is not yet clear how long he will be out for.

However, once he recovers fully, there's a chance that the Chiefs might not reinstate him as the team's starter. This would depend on how Foles will handle himself on the field. As shown during last Sunday's game, Foles had better stats that Smith.

If Foles continues to outperform Smith in the next few games, then there's a chance that Smith might remain as a backup QB. The Kansas City organization could even decide to release him, and retain Tyler Bray as the team's No. 2 quarterback.