The Kansas City Chiefs opened the season strongly on both sides of the ball, but the Indianapolis Colts bring a different challenge in Week 2. Jonathan Taylor will test Kansas City's defense, while the Colts look to respond after a tough defensive outing.

The game also has an unusual scheduling twist: Kansas City is set for another prime-time home appearance just days after its season opener. Several individual matchups could shape how Sunday night unfolds.

Here are five things to watch in the Chiefs vs Colts Week 2 game.

1. Chris Jones' status and the final injury picture

The Chiefs will be without left tackle Josh Simmons and safety Chamarri Conner for a second consecutive week.

According to Chiefs.com, Defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback Mansoor Delane are listed as questionable, although Head Coach Andy Reid said he “thinks we'll be OK there” regarding Jones.

For the Colts, wide receiver Alec Pierce has no injury designation despite missing Thursday's practice while managing a heel injury. Pierce was the only NFL player to average more than 20 yards per catch last season.

2. Whether Ken Walker can produce another explosive rushing game

Ken Walker enters Week 2 after a career performance against Denver, posting 173 rushing yards and 191 scrimmage yards. He also broke 14 tackles and produced two runs of 20-plus yards.

The Colts allowed 202 rushing yards to the Baltimore Ravens last week, with 99 coming against a heavy box.

Indianapolis ranked among the NFL's better run defenses in average yards allowed per carry last season, but departures such as linebacker Zaire Franklin have left younger players with important responsibilities.

3. How Kansas City handles Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor was central to Indianapolis' offensive success during its 8-2 start in 2025. Through Week 10, the tailback led the NFL in rushing by more than 200 yards while averaging 6.03 yards per carry.

Taylor also leads the league in rushing touchdowns since the beginning of last season. He had 58 rushing yards against Kansas City in Week 12 last year and failed to reach 100 yards in another game for the remainder of that season.

4. Whether the Chiefs' pass-rush can pressure Daniel Jones again

Kansas City pressured Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix on 51.5% of his dropbacks and recorded four sacks in Week 1. The pressure came from across the defense, with 15 different players recording at least one pressure and five producing multiple pressures.

The Colts allowed pressure on 41.2% of Daniel Jones' dropbacks last week. When pressured, Jones completed only 3-of-11 passes for nine yards on 14 pressured dropbacks, giving Kansas City's front another important matchup.

5. What another prime-time game means for Kansas City

The Chiefs are set to become only the second team in NFL history to open a season with consecutive prime-time home games, joining the 1978 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kansas City's schedule is also the first to feature a Monday Night Football game followed by a Sunday Night Football game, with both played at home.

Patrick Mahomes enters the matchup with a 30-13 record in prime time on Monday night, the second-best mark among quarterbacks with at least 10 prime-time starts since 2000.

With Taylor, Jones and the Chiefs' pass-rush in focus, the Chiefs vs. Colts matchup could come down to which side handles its key challenges better on Sunday night.

Written by

Divyanshi Raj