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PONTIAC, Mich. (Reuter) - For the first time in 29 regular-season and playoff games, Steve Bono will not start at quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs as the team battles the Detroit Lions on Thursday afternoon.
In his place will be veteran Rich Gannon, who has appeared in just one game this season and hasn't started a contest since 1993. The 30-year-old signal-caller replaced Bono in the third quarter of Sunday's 28-14 loss to San Diego and went 22-of-31 for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
Gannon played his first six seasons in the league with Minnesota, starting 35-of-41 games over his final three years (1990-92) with the club. He started half of the eight games he appeared in with Washington in 1993, was not in the NFL in 1994 and played in two games off the bench last year with the Chiefs.
"It is my belief that Rich Gannon has the ability to provide our offense with some big plays, which we sorely need," said Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer. "Because of his athletic skills and his mobility, he may in fact, be able to do that."
Despite leading the club to an 8-4 record, Bono has struggled this season, completing 203-of-377 passes for 2,240 yards with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was 10-of-23 for 106 yards and two interceptions Sunday before being yanked.
"I know how he (Bono) feels about the whole thing, we talked about it," said Gannon. "Obviously, he feels like he should be playing, and when you look at his record I don't think you can argue that."
The Chiefs are three games behind Denver for first place in the AFC West.