[Kansas City.com] The Chiefs might have been a little apprehensive about sending 32-year-old cornerback Dewayne Washington to cover the likes of Randy Moss, Jerry Porter and Doug Gabriel.

But Washington wasn’t the least bit uneasy about the task. An 11-year starter until he joined the Chiefs this year, Washington has been through this drill before. Just not for this team.

Washington had come off the bench in the Chiefs’ first seven games, but he was thrust into the starting lineup Sunday in the absence of the injured Patrick Surtain and Dexter McCleon.

“It’s old hat for me,” Washington said. “I know what to do and how to prepare myself by watching film and just getting ready to go out there and compete.”

Washington spent a large part of the 27-23 win at Arrowhead Stadium defending Moss, who had five receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown the last time he played the Chiefs in September. Moss was hobbled Sunday because of injuries and obviously not himself. He caught only one pass, for a 7-yard touchdown that put Oakland ahead briefly in the fourth quarter.

Still, the Chiefs will take it. Happily.

“Nothing like having a guy with a lot of character and experience,” coach Dick Vermeil said of Washington. “He’s a tremendous worker and has no problem being a backup. He totally knows what’s going on with all the years he’s played. You know he’s not going to make a mistake.”