The Chiefs are down to their backup QB for the 2nd year in a row.

Matt Cassel sustained a concussion in the 4th quarter of Sunday’s game against Baltimore and is unlikely to play in next weekend’s game at Tampa Bay, which means Brady Quinn is getting ready to start an NFL game for the 1st time in nearly 3 years.

Cassel was hit by the Ravens’ Haloti Ngata while completing a pass to Jamaal Charles in the KC Chiefs’ 9-6 loss. He remained on the ground for a while before walking off the field and straight to the locker room. Quinn finished out Kansas City’s last offensive series.

”Some people recover faster than others” Kansas City’ Coach Romeo Crennel expounded, ”but with the emphasis on concussions in the league, they’re making sure we do required research with the player’s health, making sure he isn’t rushed back, so we’ll see.”

Crennel didn’t officially rule Cassel out against the Buccaneers, but he revealed that Quinn and 3rd-string QB Ricky Stanzi would be preparing to play. Basketball odds

”That’s one of the good things about having 3 quarterbacks on the roster,” Crennel asserted, ”if you lose one, at least you still have 2 guys, and you don’t have to go trying to pick someone up off the street. You have guys who have been in the system.”

That was the trouble the Chiefs found themselves in last season.

Cassel hurt his throwing hand against the Denver Broncos last November, undergoing surgery and landing on injured reserve. Tyler Palko was an abject failure beginning in his place, and the Kansas City Chiefs wound up saying Kyle Orton off waivers to finish out the season.

The move to Quinn might have happened eventually even if Cassel had not been hurt.

The former Pro Bowl QB has struggled mightily the past 2 seasons, and his troubles this year have been especially glaring. Cassel was only completing 58.5% of his passes and had thrown 5 touchdowns and a league-leading 9 interceptions.

His QB rating of 66.2 is the lowest since he became a starter in New England Patriots.  Quinn only threw 3 passes against the Ravens, but he finished all of them for 32 yards.

He also had a completed pass to Dwayne Bowe for a go-ahead touchdown that was called back as a result of an illegal pick set by WR Dexter McCluster. The Chiefs were forced to kick a field goal and never got the ball back as Ravens ran out the clock.

He threw for 66 yards and 2 interceptions in a 41-34 victory on Dec. 20, 2009. Quinn was hurt during the game and missed the remainder of the season, and hadn’t played in a regular-season game again until pressed into duty Sunday against Baltimore.

”It felt great to be out there, was comfortable being at home, being on the field, but right now I’m just here to support my teammates,” Quinn said after Sunday’s game. ”Matt is our starter and I just prepare each week like I’m a starter, and I prepare myself for the moment.”