Chiefs expect Alex Smith (concussion) to start next week

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (concussion) is expected to start Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

What It Means:

The fact he is expected to start suggests his absence this week is injury related despite the Chiefs playing coy with his status. Nick Foles does bring a downfield element to the passing game which is missing with Smith under center, and there could be rumblings of a quarterback controversy if Foles is able to move the offense again this week.

Foles earned 0.37 Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per attempt on 24 attempts last week, more than double Smith's rate of 0.17 Passing NEP per attempt on 248 attempts.