Former teammate predicts Pro Bowl left tackle will sign with Chiefs now that he's been cleared to play
There's no denying that the Kansas City Chiefs could use some help at the left tackle position, whether a starter or depth to reinforce the position down the stretch. A new option may officially be available to make a return to the field according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Former Arizona Cardinals […]
There's no denying that the Kansas City Chiefs could use some help at the left tackle position, whether a starter or depth to reinforce the position down the stretch. A new option may officially be available to make a return to the field according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Former Arizona Cardinals LT DJ Humphries has been medically cleared to return to play per Rapoport. The one-time Pro Bowler suffered a torn ACL late last season and has been working his way back ever since. He visited the Giants earlier in the offseason, however, he's likely aiming a little higher than joining a 2-8 New York team.
His former teammate with the Cardinals, LG Justin Pugh, shared a little prediction shortly after the news broke that Humphries was cleared to return to the gridiron.
"I predict Chiefs," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Makes too much sense."
Pugh might not have insider information here, but rather a hunch. He probably knows best after playing alongside him in Arizona from 2018-2022.
He's right, too. It makes a lot of sense for Kansas City.
Chiefs rookie OT Kingsley Suamataia was made a healthy scratch just last week after his early season struggles made him unreliable as depth. Their current starter, Wanya Morris, has struggled with a knee injury throughout the season. He has proven to be a serviceable option on Patrick Mahomes' blind side, but can he stay healthy for the remainder of the regular season and through a playoff run?
"I actually thought Wanya (Morris) got a little bit better this week," Chiefs HC Andy Reid said on Monday. "He’s been doing that for the most part every week, but the injury stepped in on it last week for a while. I felt like he did some good things for a young guy, he improved and will continue to improve with reps there. Then, as far as a veteran player goes, (General Manager Brett) Veach is always keeping his eyes open so he would be the one that heads that up and he’s – obviously, he birddogs all that.”
Humphries has started 98 career games on the offensive line since joining the Cardinals in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft, with the vast majority of his experience coming at left tackle. During the 2023 NFL season, the 6-foot-5 and 307-pound tackle allowed 28 total pressures and four sacks in 15 games before his injury.
If he's healthy and ready, Humphries is certainly worth a look from Chiefs GM Brett Veach. You know it's getting bad when LG Joe Thuney is asked about his comfort level playing left tackle.
Affording Humphries won't be a problem as the team is listed with $5.9 million in salary cap space on the NFLPA's public salary cap report.
Dave Toub reveals the Chiefs may have struck gold twice with Spencer Shrader following in Harrison Butker’s footsteps
It turns out that Kansas City Chiefs’ Harrison Butker and Spencer Shrader have a lot in common.
