The Kansas City Chiefs can’t afford any more misfortune with four games left to play, all of them must-wins if the team hopes to earn a playoff berth for the 11th consecutive year.
However, the Chiefs suffered a setback in the injury progression of right guard Trey Smith, who has missed three games this season, including the last two with a back injury. Smith returned to practice on Wednesday, December 10 and was a full participant. However, he then took a step back, working in just a limited capacity on Thursday.
“Trent McDuffie, Hollywood Brown and Trey Smith were limited in practice today,” the Chiefs posted to their official X account. “Jawaan Taylor, Wanya Morris and Nick Bolton did not practice.”
Smith had missed just one game in four seasons prior to the three contests he’s already sat out in 2025. He earned Pro Bowl honors last season, subsequently signing a $94 million contract extension.
Pro Football Focus ranks Smith the No. 21 offensive guard in the NFL this season out of 80 players at the position who have seen enough snaps to qualify.
Jawaan Taylor Has Not Practiced in 2 Weeks, Wanya Morris Likely Out at Least Next Game
GettyRight tackle Jawaan Taylor of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Taylor, the starting right tackle, continues battling a triceps injury and a bad knee. He has missed just one game with those issues, but did not practice once last week leading into the Houston Texans matchup and has not been on the field yet this week ahead of the Chiefs’ crucial divisional showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Meanwhile Morris, the reserve left tackle, could miss the remainder of the year with a knee injury, accrording to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on December 8. His prognosis has improved over the past three days, but Kansas City still expects Morris to miss at least the team’s Week 15 game against the Changers.
The Chiefs’ offensive line has surrendered 29 sacks on the season, including two against the Texans last weekend. Kansas City also allowed the Texans defense to generate eight QB hits on Patrick Mahomes, and the relentless pressure from Houston contributed to three interceptions by the three-time Super Bowl champion in arguably the worst game of his professional career.
Chargers Gettable With Worst Offensive Line in Football
GettyQuarterback Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Bolton (illness) and McDuffie (knee hyperextension) both appear on track to potentially play on Sunday, which bodes better for the Chiefs defense than the O-line issues appear for the offense.
The Chargers have the worst-ranked offensive line in the league this season, per Pro Football Focus, partly due to injuries. Thus, the defensive side of the football is potentially where Kansas City can dominate with coordinator Steve Spagnuolo dialing up his patented creative blitz packages.
“Although Justin Herbert’s heroics kept the Chargers afloat, the team’s offensive line was no match for the [Philadelphia] Eagles‘ pass rush [in Week 14],” Zoltan Buday of PFF wrote Wednesday. “The unit gave up a league-high 26 pressures, including one sack, on 41 pass plays against Philadelphia. The front’s 67.1 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating ranked dead last this week.”
Kansas City must win out for a chance to make the playoffs. The Chiefs also need the Chargers to finish 1-3 or worse, and can get both balls rolling on Sunday.
Even if both things happen, Kansas City still needs the Indianapolis Colts to go 2-2 or worse down the stretch to reach the postseason.
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