The Kansas City Chiefs face a pivotal game in Week 13, when they host the Houston Texans.
A loss will severely impede the reigning AFC champions’ chances of returning to the postseason for the 11th straight season, with 2014 being the last time Andy Reid’s team failed to advance to the playoffs.
According to The Athletic’s playoff simulator, Kansas City currently have a 37% chance of making the postseason – a little better than one in three. A loss to Houston on Sunday night will drop that probability to just one in 10.
But one thing that is threatening not just their Week 13 bout, but perhaps the remainder of the regular season, is the amount of injuries stacking up in a critical area – the offensive line.
Josh Simmons was put onto IR by the team on Wednesday, whilst on the same day it was revealed that both guard, Trey Smith and offensive tackle, Jawaan Taylor did not practice.
Chiefs Could Be Down Three Offensive Linemen For Sunday
“Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, and Chris Roland-Wallace did not practice today.” The Chiefs wrote on X.
Taylor has been touch and go since suffering a triceps injury against the Dallas Cowboys in the Thanksgiving loss in Week 12.
Right now, he is listed as questionable to play, but his non-participation will certainly be a concern for the organization ahead of a critical stretch of the season that could see them needing to win out to put them into Wild Card contention.
Trey Smith was absent during last Thursday’s defeat with an ankle sprain, and fans will have been hoping that given he avoided short-term IR, the sprain is not particularly serious. However, given the fact that he too did not practice will certainly come as a blow for the Chiefs.
That leaves three Kansas City starters potentially out of the mix for the weekend, Simmons, Smith and Taylor – the last thing that Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes were looking for as they look to turn their season around ASAP.
Who Will The Chiefs Look To Replace Their Injured OL Starters?
It is by no means a given that KC will have to function without three of their top five guys on the OL in Week 13 and beyond, but there is certainly a possibility that one or both could see a multiple-week layoff.
Despite left tackle being traditionally considered the most important, and often highest paid member of the unit, it is arguably the most replaceable spot for the Chiefs, who have March’s free agent addition, Jaylon Moore – who has handed himself very capably this season – immediately available to cover.
Smith, on the other hand, will likely be replaced by Mike Caliendo. Caliendo, whilst experienced, has shown himself to be a major liability in pass protection over the past couple of years – a weakness that came to ahead most notably during Super Bowl LIX, where he and the rest of the line were complicit in allowing the Philadelphia Eagles 6 sacks on the day.
Taylor, who has easily been the least convincing of the three, should see his spot being filled by Wanya Morris, who has had a very mixed first three years as a pro, where has not really been able to reliably show his ability to occupy one of the tackle spots at an NFL level.
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