Andy Reid gives latest update on Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive tackle injury situation heading into Week 14 vs. Houston Texans
The Kansas City Chiefs have quite a few options to weigh for Week 14 amidst their injuries at the offensive tackle position.
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke to media members on Monday, providing a brief update on the injury situation at offensive tackle.
Reid told reporters that rookie LT Josh Simmons was seeking a second opinion on his wrist injury and that the team would take it from there. Recent reports indicate that Simmons suffered a dislocated and fractured wrist, with injured reserve being a likelihood for the starting left tackle.
“The guys are working to get themselves healthy right now (and) everybody is in the process,” Reid said. “Josh (Simmons) is getting a second evaluation on his wrist, and we’ll just see what goes from there, and then other guys, the Trey’s (Smith) and JT (Jawaan Taylor), all those guys are improving as we go forward here. We’ll see how they do here in the next couple of days.”
So, who could potentially step in for Simmons at left tackle in Week 14? Earlier this season, Jaylon Moore replaced Simmons when he missed time due to a personal family matter. However, with Jawaan Taylor’s status up in the air, the Chiefs could find themselves relying on Wanya Morris to start at left tackle once again.
“Yeah, Wanya (Morris) went in and had a chance to play in the game,” Reid said on Monday. “I thought after the first couple of plays he really settled in and did a nice job. But yes, he would be one of the potential guys in there.”
In the 18 snaps that Morris played on Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys, he surrendered two pressures according to Pro Football Focus. If he maintained that pace at the full 46 offensive snaps the team played, Morris would’ve been tied for second on the team with five pressures allowed.
What options do the Chiefs have at offensive tackle for Week 14 vs. the Houston Texans?
While Morris is still on the 53-man roster, it’s hard not to recall why he was benched a season ago. It’s why the Chiefs went out and paid Jaylon Moore in free agency and drafted Josh Simmons. No matter what Andy Reid says, Kansas City can’t trot him out there as a starter and expect different results. Thankfully, the team does have some alternate options available to them.
Chiefs’ offensive tackle depth
- Starting LT Josh Simmons (dislocated/fractured wrist)
- Starting RT Jawaan Taylor (knee/ankle/triceps)
- Jaylon Moore
- Wanya Morris
- Esa Pole (practice squad)
- Chu Godrick (practice squad)
- Ethan Driskell (Reserve/PUP)
Esa Pole, who was actually elevated from the practice squad for Week 13 and made a healthy scratch, is the player who is most likely to see action in place of Simmons or Taylor. He was a standout during the preseason, allowing no pressures or sacks in 46 offensive snaps. I actually expect the Chiefs to sign Pole to the 53-man roster when Simmons is placed on injured reserve.
If Jawaan Taylor and Trey Smith are both questionable heading into Week 14, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Chu Godrick elevated from the practice squad as well. He can play both guard spots and has the flexibility to play right tackle for Kansas City as well.
The wild-card in all of this is second-year OT Ethan Driskell, who remains on the Reserve/PUP list after having an appendectomy this offseason. If he’s ready to get back into the fold, they could still designate him to return to practice this week.
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