Trey Smith’s availability is starting to look a lot better for the Chiefs, and that matters more than ever with Kansas City still sorting through its offensive line.
Smith had been dealing with a hip issue in training camp, enough to raise some concern after he also missed five games last season because of back spasms and ankle injuries. He sat out two preseason games, but the Chiefs at least got a reassuring sign when he made his usual veteran appearance in the preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks.
For Smith, the mindset is simple: if he can go, he wants to be out there.
“I just don’t like putting my teammates in a position where now they’re having to take extra reps or for me to leave my team hanging and not being at my best,” Smith said Thursday, via Pete Sweeney of the Kansas City Star.
He expanded on that point by saying he tends to push through even when he probably shouldn’t, because sitting out feels like he’s shortchanging the group.
“A lot of times I’m a little hardheaded in that regard, because if I’m not at my best, it’s not the best thing for the team. There are other guys that are willing and able to do it. But I’ve just always sort of been a guy that’s like, ‘If I’m able to go, I’m going to try to go and give as much as I have, regardless.’”
That attitude carries real weight for Kansas City right now. The line has been unsettled, with Josh Simmons dealing with a back problem and Kahlil Benson slipping after being viewed as a potential starter earlier in camp.
Smith also pointed to the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy as part of the way he approaches the job, saying Bieniemy’s message has reinforced the expectation to show up and handle business.
“It’s just part of the job and part of the responsibility,” Smith said. “And like [Eric Bieniemy] says, ‘[Expletive], we signed up for it.’
So at the end of the day, I signed a contract, so it’s my job to be out there. A lot of times I’m not out there, I feel like I’m not doing my job and letting my team down and . . . [letting down] me, my coaches.
And that’s just something [where] I don’t really like that feeling whatsoever.”
In Other News...
Chiefs Undrafted Rookie Forced His Way Into A Real Roster Battle
Xavier Nwankpa arrived in camp with the kind of uphill climb undrafted rookies know well, but he kept making the Chiefs pay attention. After preseason work and offseason evaluations, the safety earned his way onto Kansas Citys 53-man roster as the fourth man at the position, a sign that his snaps mattered beyond just filling out summer depth charts. His chance to stand out came earlier than expected when an injury to Alohi Gilman pushed him into a start in the second preseason game, and he handled the moment well enough to keep the conversation going.
For Nwankpa, the path to surviving roster cuts wasnt just about defensive reps. He pointed to special teams as a major part of how he secured his spot, which tracks with how Kansas City often builds the back end of its roster. In a room where every role can be fragile, that kind of versatility can be the difference between a temporary look and a real place on the team, and Nwankpa clearly did enough to force the Chiefs to treat him like more than a camp body. [Read more 🡒]
Patrick Mahomes Family Video Arrived As One Chiefs Question Lingers
Patrick Mahomes and his family were recently part of a commercial shoot with CommunityAmerica Credit Union, and the behind-the-scenes footage made its way out publicly, offering a light offseason glimpse of the Chiefs quarterback away from the field. For a team that has spent months building toward another title defense, even a family-centered promo can draw attention when it centers on the face of the franchise.
The more relevant storyline, though, is still the one hanging over Kansas Citys opener. Travis Kelce said on the New Heights podcast that Mahomes determination to fight back from injury helped shape his own decision to keep playing, a reminder of how much Mahomes presence drives the entire operation. It is expected that Mahomes will take the field against the Denver Broncos to open the season, but for now that remains one of the few Chiefs questions still waiting on a final answer. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Face An Awkward Preseason Trend Fans Wont Love
The Chiefs have entered the kind of preseason pattern that tends to make fans uneasy, even if the games themselves do not count in the standings. Kansas City did not win any of its last three preseason outings, and history has not been especially kind to teams that head into the regular season carrying that kind of August baggage.
Only two Super Bowl champions have ever come out of a winless preseason, the 1982 Redskins and the 2021 Rams, which gives the trend a little more bite than most idle summer chatter. A recent tie only adds another odd wrinkle to the picture, since that result has shown up before in the path of a past title team, leaving the Chiefs in a strange spot as the real games approach. [Read more 🡒]