Will new Chiefs LT D.J. Humphries play in Week 14 vs. Chargers? Andy Reid provides the latest updates
The Kansas City Chiefs opted against playing LT D.J. Humphries against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13, but he could be on the field for Week 14's game against the Los Angeles Chargers on "Sunday Night Football." The Chiefs have a clear left tackle problem after benching rookie LT Kingsley Suamataia earlier this season and now benching second-year […]
The Kansas City Chiefs opted against playing LT D.J. Humphries against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13, but he could be on the field for Week 14's game against the Los Angeles Chargers on "Sunday Night Football."
The Chiefs have a clear left tackle problem after benching rookie LT Kingsley Suamataia earlier this season and now benching second-year LT Wanya Morris in Week 13. It was apparent that the team had a problem weeks ago. It is why they went out and signed Humphries upon his final clearance to return from his knee injury. The 30-year-old has 98 regular season starts over the past eight seasons in the NFL, mostly at left tackle. It gives him much more experience at the position than anyone else in the O-Line room.
While Humphries didn't get a chance to go last week, Reid isn't ruling out the possibility for their upcoming AFC West matchup.
"We’ll work him in and see how he feels," Reid said. "That’s the main thing. He hasn’t played in a while, so I just want to make sure he’s in a good position. He did a nice job last week working in there, so we’ll do a little bit more with him this week.”
Humphries didn't play in Week 13 against the Raiders because he had just four days to learn the playbook and scheme, plus work his way into football shape following a season-ending injury in 2023.
"Listen, last week was a short week, so we didn't have a whole lot of time for the fast part of the game practices," Reid explained. "So, this week, I'll have a better idea as we go. And he'll have a better idea of how he feels and we'll go from there. We'll just see how it all works out."
Reid stopped short of naming Humphries the starter for Week 14 and beyond for one particular reason.
"No, listen, I don't think that's probably fair to D.J. [Humphries] right now, just him coming off this offseason," Reid said. "I think we just play it by ear as we go, and if he feels okay, then we give him an opportunity. If it's not where it needs to be, then you don't. So it's, we'll just see how it goes."
Humphries indicated last week that all he needed from the coaches was their go-ahead and that he'd be ready to return to the field. That's certainly a possibility for Week 14's game, but it's not definitive. They could even stick with the alternative they went with in the final offensive series in Week 13 with Joe Thuney at left tackle and Mike Caliendo at left guard.
"That's another one of the options that we've got," Reid said. "So, we finished the game that way, and I'd rather have Joe [Thuney] playing in at guard because he's very good there, but [Mike] Caliendo isn't bad either. So, that's a good problem to have, but we've got some flexibility there as needed."
It's probably not the ideal situation, but another option to fall back on outside of putting Wanya Morris out there against a hungry Chargers defensive line in Week 14.
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