The Kansas City Chiefs have built a dynasty in the Patrick Mahomes era-three Super Bowl titles, five appearances in six years, and a stranglehold on the AFC West that’s made divisional rivalries feel like a thing of the past. But even in the midst of all that sustained success, there’s been one recurring issue that keeps cropping up at the worst possible time: offensive line breakdowns.
And here we are again in 2025, staring down that same familiar problem.
Coming off a tough Week 13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in front of a record-setting crowd, the Chiefs didn’t just lose a game-they walked away with a battered offensive front and more questions than answers. The hope was that the mini-bye, courtesy of playing on Thursday night, would buy them enough time-10 full days-for some of those injuries to heal. But as the team gets back to work ahead of a must-win showdown with the Houston Texans, it’s clear that help isn’t arriving fast enough.
Andy Reid confirmed on Wednesday that several backups are preparing to step into starting roles this week, and that’s not just coach-speak. The Chiefs are dealing with real attrition up front.
Left tackle Josh Simmons is the biggest loss so far-literally and figuratively. He was placed on injured reserve with a fractured and dislocated wrist, an injury that will sideline him through at least Week 17 and could very well end his season.
In his place, second-year tackle Wanya Morris will be tasked with protecting Mahomes’ blindside. That’s a tall order for any young lineman, especially with the stakes this high.
The hits keep coming on the right side, too. Right guard Trey Smith has already missed time this season with back spasms, and now an ankle injury kept him out against Dallas. He’s missed practice this week, and unless something changes dramatically, it looks like Mike Caliendo will be next man up at guard.
And then there’s right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who injured his triceps in the Dallas game and still hasn’t returned to practice. That’s where things get even trickier.
Jaylon Moore, the team’s swing tackle, has been taking first-team reps at right tackle in practice. That’s a telling sign.
If the Chiefs expected Taylor to be back soon, Moore would likely be filling in on the left side-where there’s a confirmed vacancy. Instead, his presence on the right strongly suggests Taylor won’t be suiting up this week.
It’s a subtle but important detail. Practice reps are gold during the season, and the Chiefs aren’t in the business of wasting them. So when Moore is repping on the right, it’s not just about depth-it’s about preparing for a real possibility that he’ll be starting there come Sunday night.
And that’s where things get dicey.
The Texans are bringing the NFL’s best defense into Arrowhead this weekend, and they have the kind of edge rushers who can wreck a game plan in a hurry. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter have combined for 21.5 sacks this season, and they’ll be licking their chops against a pair of backup tackles.
If you’re Mahomes, you’re already under pressure to carry a somewhat inconsistent offense. Now he might be doing it while dodging elite pass rushers coming at him from both sides.
It’s not hard to see the parallels to previous years. The Chiefs’ offensive line issues were a major factor in their Super Bowl LV loss to Tampa Bay.
And again in Super Bowl LIX, protection problems reared their head. Now, with the postseason picture hanging in the balance, Kansas City is once again looking at a critical stretch with a patchwork line.
Sunday night’s matchup with Houston isn’t just another game-it’s one that could unofficially decide the Chiefs’ playoff fate. And with a decimated offensive line, Mahomes and the offense are going to have to dig deep to keep their championship hopes alive. The margin for error is thin, the pressure is real, and the challenge ahead is steep.
We've seen this team rise to the occasion before. But they’ll need every ounce of that championship DNA to survive what’s shaping up to be one of their toughest tests yet.