Midway through the fourth quarter of Friday’s 19-17 win against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Kansas City Chiefs mirrored their decision with rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia late in the Week 2 match against the Cincinnati Bengals: they benched their starting left tackle.
During Week 2, second-year tackle Wanya Morris replaced Suamataia — but when Morris sat on the bench Friday, veteran left guard Joe Thuney moved to the outside; backup guard Mike Caliendo entered to fill Thuney’s position.
However, head coach Andy Reid still believes that although Suamatia and Morris haven’t performed as anticipated this season, they possess the ability to contribute to the team’s success moving forward.
“We have young individuals who were employed there,” he mentioned to journalists on Monday. “They’re up against skilled players.” The nice ones have likely — perhaps — out us. However, [these are] lessons that these individuals will gain knowledge from. They can save [those] for later and improve themselves. “I believe that will assist us in the future.”
Reid remarked that for Morris, it has been a recurring narrative.
“At times, events can spiral out of control,” he noted. “I mean, it’s a mix of everything that affects you.” He began quite well — and then it sort of progressed from that point. That occurs with young men. No one desires that outcome, yet occasionally it occurs — and then you find yourself immobilized regarding what steps to take next.
The Chiefs have taken action to strengthen the position by signing D.J. Humphries, the former left tackle of the Arizona Cardinals. The 30-year-old Humphries, a first-round selection in 2015, turned into a salary-cap casualty for 2024 following an ACL injury he sustained in last season’s Week 17 matchup. Reid is still undecided about whether Humphries will take on the starting role for the team’s crucial game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
“I believe that’s likely not fair to D.J. at this moment — considering he’s just coming off this offseason,” Reid stated. “I believe we should just take it as it comes.” If he feels fine, then we provide him with a chance. If [he’s] not in the right place, then [we] won’t. “Let’s just observe how it turns out.”
If Humphries isn’t prepared to play on Sunday, Reid is open to having Thuney act as quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blind-side protector. However, that wouldn’t be his preferred option.
“Indeed, that’s another option available to us; we concluded [Friday’s] match in that manner,” recognized the head coach. “[However] I prefer Joe playing [at] guard since he excels in that position — [and] Caliendo is also decent.”
“That’s a favorable issue to face: we have some leeway available when required.”
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