The Kansas City Chiefs recently informed the NFL world that backup tight end Blake Bell underwent surgery for a hip flexor and his return is currently unknown.

“I don’t think it’s going to be real quick,” head coach Andy Reid told reporters Tuesday.

On the surface, it doesn't seem like Bell's injury is a big deal, but it is in a fact a pretty big deal. Bell is the Chiefs' No. 2 tight end and he's a big part of the blocking game when Eric Bieniemy's offense decides to run 12 personnel (two tight ends, one running back).

A typical return from Bell's surgery is around three to six weeks, but that's not guaranteed. Because of this, Reid isn't ready to commit to decisions like placing Bell on short-term IR or keeping him on the 53-man roster when final cuts are due next Tuesday.

“We’ll see on that,” said Reid. “We’re kind of throwing some things around right now.”

Fortunately for the Chiefs, there's a potential trade target out there who can help with this situation, even if the Chiefs have a couple of capable backups in Jody Fortson and Noah Gray.

That option is former first-round pick O.J. Howard, who is currently with the Buffalo Bills.

Howard's status in Buffalo is largely unknown based off his training camp and how the Bills have used him during the preseason. It's led some beat reporters, mainly The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia in this case, to speculate that Howard's time in western New York may be over before it officially begins in the regular season.

" … Howard’s hold on the backup tight end job is not secure. The Bills were without starter Dawson Knox, who returned home to be with his family after the tragic passing of his brother. Without Knox in the lineup, it allowed some of the backup options to get time with Allen and the first-team offense. As the Bills went through their six snaps, Quintin Morris, Tommy Sweeney and fullback Reggie Gilliam all took at least one snap with Allen. Morris had five of the six, and Sweeney entered the game with Gilliam for one play. Howard remained on the sidelines the entire drive despite signing a somewhat substantial contract this offseason.

"… He took advantage of a red zone opportunity by bringing in a touchdown at the end of the half. But you have to wonder if the extended time for Howard was the Bills putting their best foot forward to showcase the tight end for a potential trade.

"Howard’s $1.945 million base salary is fully guaranteed, so the only way the team would save money by removing him would be via trade. The team would still be on the hook for Howard’s prorated $1.25 million signing bonus, but saving $2 million is notable." 

Howard is an athletic freak and a willing blocker in both the running game and passing game, but injuries have really limited his production over the last two seasons. That doesn't mean he wouldn't be a good third or fourth option for the Chiefs, however. He was a former first-round pick for a reason.

He'd only cost a little under $2 million under the cap and the Chiefs wouldn't have to give up a high draft pick, either. Case in point: the Bills traded their own former second-rounder, Cody Ford, on Monday for a fifth-rounder.

So, there's a great chance -a nearly guaranteed chance, actually- that Howard, a player who has yet to log an official snap for the Bills, can be had for that same price or even less.

The big catch with this proposed trade, however, is how the Chiefs actually decide to fit Howard into the offense. He'll come in behind the others in terms of playbook familiarity, obviously. And then, it's logical to wonder if he'll cut into Fortson's or Gray's playing time. Both players have been developing well for the Chiefs, so you'd hate to see that progress slow down.

At the same time, Fortson has had issues staying healthy the past year. Howard provides a good alternative if Fortson is bitten by the injury bug again.

Either way, the NFL is all about stacking talent at as many positions as possible and then stacking talent on top of that talent in regard to depth.

Howard is the epitome of that process and he'll come at a very cheap cost.

The biggest obstacle, however, would be getting the Bills to sign off on a trade with the Chiefs. Well, because we all know that reason.

You can check out Buscaglia's full column, here.

Featured image via Kim Klement USA Today-Sports