Coach Dick Vermeil told the Philadelphia Inquirer for a story posted on its Web site that the knee injury wide receiver Freddie Mitchell suffered early in training camp may cost Mitchell a spot on the roster. Mitchell decided against arthroscopic surgery after tearing meniscus cartilage in his right knee July 30. The Chiefs told the Inquirer that Mitchell might have missed two weeks or less if he had had the operation. Mitchell is running full speed but still can't cut on the right knee. "He was doing fine before he hurt the cartilage, and he elected on his own not to get it operated on," Vermeil told the Inquirer. "Our people thought he ought to get it done, and he'd be back practicing right now. But, you know, a player has his right to make a decision, and, hopefully, it was not the wrong one for him. But he would have been very, very competitive to make this football team. It's going to be tough now, if you're not in position to compete."