Chiefs’ offensive line takes another hit in Week 7 vs. Raiders with starting RG Trey Smith sidelined by back injury
The Kansas City Chiefs are already missing Josh Simmons. They’re now down another starter on the offensive line.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line is now down two starters for the Week 7 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Chiefs are already missing starting left tackle Josh Simmons for personal reasons, but now they’ve got another starter on the offensive line sidelined with a lower back injury. Chiefs RG Trey Smith came out of the game briefly to get checked out toward the end of the first quarter and was back on the field quickly to try to return to the game. He was then taken out of the game a few plays later at which point the CBS broadcast noted he was out of the game with a lower back injury.
Kansas City would then rule him questionable to return to the game about halfway through the second quarter.
Mike Caliendo replaces Trey Smith at right guard
With Smith on the sidelines, the Chiefs have placed Mike Caliendo in the game at right guard. He’s the team’s fourth man on the interior offensive line, where he’d replace any of the starting trio if they have to come out of the game with injury. Caliendo most recently started for Kansas City at left guard in 2024, when the team moved Joe Thuney to left tackle late in the season. The Chiefs have just three backup offensive linemen active for the game on Sunday: Caliendo, Hunter Nourzad, and Wanya Morris.
It’s a pretty substantial drop-off from Smith to Caliendo in the running game, as Smith is someone the Chiefs regularly run behind. There’s also just the difference in execution, as Caliendo had a false start in the second quarter that would ultimately ruin what would have been a walk-in touchdown to Rashee Rice on a trick play. Hollywood Brown would score a few plays later, so no harm, no foul. However, it’s something to watch when you’ve got someone coming cold off the bench to play.
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