Chiefs' best option at left tackle with D.J. Humphries ruled out vs. Browns might be the least expected
The Kansas City Chiefs weren't willing to rule out LT D.J. Humphries in the team's final injury report on Friday, and they held out some hope that he could play in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns. On Saturday, the team reversed course and ruled Humphries out ahead of the game. When asked about the team's plan […]
The Kansas City Chiefs weren't willing to rule out LT D.J. Humphries in the team's final injury report on Friday, and they held out some hope that he could play in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns. On Saturday, the team reversed course and ruled Humphries out ahead of the game.
When asked about the team's plan for left tackle if Humphries is unable to play, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid didn't offer much insight.
"Yeah, just kind of seeing where we're at with it," Reid said on Friday. "We rotated guys in there, so we'll see what the end result is."
The end result might not be what most expect, though. Wanya Morris handled things well last week, getting benched for Humphries, then coming in off the best to play nine snaps once Humphries injured his hamstring. The Chiefs could reward that with an opportunity in Week 15 against the Browns.
Perhaps Kingsley Suamataia has shown enough progress to OL coach Andy Heck in recent weeks that he's earned another opportunity to start. I wouldn't exactly hold my breath on that option, given what we saw transpire earlier this season.
The team could also go an entirely different route, which involves playing one of their stud interior offensive linemen out of position. . .
Why the Chiefs should go with Joe Thuney at left tackle and Mike Caliendo at left guard in Week 15
There's enough data to point to Joe Thuney deserving a shot at left tackle in Week 15, with Mike Caliendo sliding into Thuney's normal post at left guard. The two got a single series together in Week 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders. That drive didn't have the results the Chiefs wanted, but not through any fault of Thuney or Caliendo. It was a stark reminder that we've seen Thuney pitch a virtual shutout at the left tackle position before, though.
In his one near-full game as a left tackle in Week 17 of the 2021 NFL season against the Cincinnati Bengals and their stud DE Trey Hendrickson, Thuney allowed just two pressures. Yes, it was against the same Trey Hendrickson who put rookie OT Kingsley Suamataia in a blender in Week 2. This was a dominant performance that could potentially be replicated against Browns stud DE Myles Garrett with the proper practice and preparation.
"I mean, whatever the team needs, you know, what it's ever required, doesn't bother me," Thuney said of playing left tackle ahead of Week 12. "You know, it's not like I'm (practicing it). (I can) rely on the past reps or training and stuff, but just whatever is needed by the team, I'm happy to do."
Remember, Thuney ended up in that Bengals game in an emergency situation when Orlando Brown Jr. was scratched with a calf injury in warm-ups, and the team lost Lucas Niang nearly immediately to injury. He didn't have any prep time for that performance. Imagine what he'd be capable of with a full week of practice to prepare for it. Mind you, Reid did say they rotated players in during the practice week, but it wouldn't be the first time he's played coy about a personnel decision out of the need for a little gamesmanship.
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