The Kansas City Chiefs could use some good news at this point late in a season in which they’ve fallen far, far short of expectations, At 6-6 overall, the Chiefs are going to need to win every game remaining on the regular-season schedule, and any chance of that happening will depend on their ability to minimize mistakes and stay healthy.

When it comes to the latter, the latest update on Bryan Cook’s injury is a positive one, which bodes well for the secondary’s fortunes. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has word that Cook avoided a high ankle sprain in the team’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Cook is out of the woods just yet. Avoiding a more serious injury means still dealing with a minor one, and Fowler didn’t offer any clarity regarding the safety’s availability for the Chiefs in Week 14. However, the good news is that the Chiefs get a mini-bye of sorts after playing on Thanksgiving Day, which gives Cook and other ailing players a bit longer to recuperate.

Bryan Cook’s latest injury update is heartening, even as he’s not quite out of the woods for the Chiefs.

Cook was lost to the ankle injury early in the Chiefs’ loss at Dallas when trying to tackle Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb following a 17-yard completion. In concert with a back injury that kept Christian Roland-Wallace out of Week 13, the Chiefs’ safeties were tested early and often and role players like Mike Edwards were forced to carry a greater burden against a prolific offense.

On Thursday, the Chiefs surrendered 23 first downs and over 450 yards of total offense to the Cowboys. Despite Patrick Mahomes’ four touchdown passes, the Chiefs still lost a close game and safety play could have made all the difference given the three-point final deficit. All of this is what makes Cook’s status such an important factor heading into the team’s next game.

Cook was the Chiefs’ second-round choice in the 2022 NFL Draft and has performed admirably in his contract season. He’s started all 12 games so far this season and has 50 total tackles with 4 deflections. Pro Football Focus ranks Cook as the 8th highest-graded safety so far this season with a 77.3 overall grade.

The Houston Texans are next on Kansas City’s schedule, a home game that will test a depleted offensive line dealing with myriad injuries. Cook’s injury is hardly the only concern in terms of availability. But the Chiefs are already thin and rather young at safety, with Cook as the unquestioned leader of the room. Getting at least this bit of good news is heartening after such a frustrating loss.