Although the Kansas City Chiefs came away with a big-time Week 12 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, they didn’t do so without some injuries. The most noteworthy one was on the offensive side of the ball.
In the aftermath of the victory, head coach Andy Reid confirmed right guard Trey Smith was hurt. On Monday morning, there’s new context surrounding the ailment(s) and a potential timeline.
Unfortunately for Kansas City, it’s far from the best-case scenario.
Insider: Trey Smith Nursing Ankle Sprains Entering Week 13
Per a Monday report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Smith has a high-ankle and low-ankle sprain.
“Chiefs Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith is dealing [with] both high- and low-ankle sprains, sources say,” Rapoport’s tweet began. “Smith is expected to miss some time, including likely against the Cowboys on Thursday.”
This is undoubtedly a significant blow for the Chiefs. Smith, a fifth-year man, is the heart and soul of the team’s run blocking scheme. The former sixth-round pick was unable to finish Week 12’s 23-20 triumph, instead playing 39 snaps. That was good for 41% of those available, making him the only starting lineman to miss time in an outing where Kansas City took a staggering 96 offensive reps.
After Sunday’s win, Reid said backup guard Mike Caliendo did “a nice job” filling in for Smith. At the time, he didn’t expand on a timeline or anything of the sort. With Rapoport shedding new light on the health of Smith, it’s no surprise that he may not be able to make a quick turnaround for Thursday. As Kansas City takes on the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, it could be the Caliendo show again.
Since joining the Chiefs in 2021, Smith has played over 5,000 snaps at right guard. The Tennessee product is widely regarded as a durable piece and one of the toughest players on the team. After Sunday’s play, he’s the 11th-ranked guard in Pro Football Focus grade, which accounts for 80 players.
High-ankle sprains oftentimes take multiple weeks to recover from. That’s something to keep in mind as Smith progresses in his rehab.
Is Mike Caliendo a Suitable Replacement in Event of Smith’s Absence?
Should Smith indeed miss time, there’s a clear hierarchy in place. Caliendo is the club’s primary backup guard, followed by someone like Hunter Nourzad. Nourzad is more of a center at this stage of his young career, though. It’s always possible that 2024 seventh-round pick C.J. Hanson is elevated from the practice squad as an extra man.
Caliendo, now in his fourth season, joined the Chiefs in 2022. He was an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan at the time. Over the years, he’s appeared in 36 regular-season games, playing 529 offensive snaps and 164 special teams reps. He logged 63 combined reps on Sunday, with Nourzad cleaning up with seven (two on offense and five on special teams).
Certain metrics reflect a very solid season from Caliendo. PFF, for example, gives him a 67.0 offensive grade and a sparkling 76.8 run blocking mark. Both of those are the highest of his career. His 47.6 pass blocking grade is, too, albeit leaving plenty of room for improvement. It’s clear that Caliendo is reserve quality.
The 6-foot-4, 301-pound lineman was credited with 4 pressures in Week 12. Considering he didn’t even play a full game, that’s troublesome. With that said, perhaps a full week of practice with starters could leave Caliendo better prepared to face the Cowboys’ front.
It doesn’t hurt to have experience and familiarity along the offensive line. Now past the trade deadline and not sitting too high on the waiver wire order, the Chiefs may have to roll with the backups they have. In the meantime, Smith will attempt to get back to near-full strength for a playoff push.
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