The Tyler Palko Era with the Kansas City Chiefs is over as interim head coach Romeo Crennel announced that, if healthy, recently acquired quarterback Kyle Orton will start on Sunday against the 13-0 and defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star reports.
Kyle Orton Will Get First Start With Chiefs Week 15, If Healthy
Orton dislocated his right index finger on his first play as a member of the Chiefs. If Orton is unable to play on Sunday, 2011 fifth-round pick RIcky Stanzi would make his regular season NFL debut.
“We’ll have to see how his finger is and how he comes along and whether we can count on him with that finger,” Crennel said of Orton.
Palko replaced an injured Matt Cassel in Week 10 and has completed 80-of-134 pass attempts for 796 yards with two touchdowns and seven interceptions. 4-4 and still alive in the AFC West at the midpoint of the season, the Chiefs have dropped four of their last five and fired head coach Todd Haley earlier this week.
Orton opened the season as the Denver Broncos starter, but lost the job to Tim Tebow after a 1-4 start. When Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler broke his thumb, Orton sought and was granted his release from the Broncos. The Bears and Dallas Cowboys also put in claims for Orton, but the Chiefs were higher on the priority order and were awarded his rights.
In five starts this season for the Broncos, Orton completed 58.7 percent of his pass attempts for 979 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Stanzi was 18-of-34 for 213 yards with a touchdown and an interception in three preseason games.
For more on the Chiefs, head over to Arrowhead Pride.
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