The Chiefs are heading into Week 1 with questions at offensive tackle, but D.J. Humphries does not look like the answer.
That became even clearer on Friday, when the Washington Commanders cut the veteran tackle just two weeks after signing him. Washington brought Humphries in as short-term depth with starting tackle Laremy Tunsil possibly headed for season-ending surgery after suffering a torn tricep early in training camp, but the reunion was brief.
For Kansas City, the tackle picture is messy in a different way. Josh Simmons, the expected starter, has been dealing with a back injury since mid-August and has not practiced since then. In his place, the Chiefs are likely to turn to rookie free agent Kahlil Benson at left tackle when Patrick Mahomes returns from the torn knee ligaments he suffered last December.
The path to Benson has opened up in part because Kansas City moved on from other options. The Chiefs released Esa Pole at roster cuts and traded Wanya Morris in June, leaving Benson as the ascending name in the room. Still, there’s a big difference between an undrafted player earning attention and being asked to protect Mahomes’ blindside in Week 1.
At right tackle, the Chiefs are leaning on Jaylon Moore, while newly claimed Diego Pounds is still getting up to speed on offense. So it’s easy to see why some fans might glance at Humphries and think there’s a fit.
But the reality is that Humphries looks like a downgrade from what Kansas City already has. His body has taken plenty of punishment, and the Chiefs already got a look at him late in the 2024 season. That tryout lasted one start before a hamstring injury knocked him out.
Humphries entered the league as a first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2015 and started 98 games across his first eight seasons. He battled injuries in several of those years, though he still made his only Pro Bowl in 2021, a reminder that he could still play at a high level when healthy.
His most recent season came with the L.A. Rams, where he played in eight games and made one start.
He became a free agent in March after his contract expired, then stayed on the market until Washington signed him in late August. The fact that Kansas City hasn’t seriously pursued him in more than a year says plenty about where the Chiefs stand.
So for now, the Chiefs appear ready to roll with the younger options on Monday Night Football, even if that’s a nerve-racking plan. The interior of the line should help, with Pro Bowl performers in place to steady things.
And while people around Benson believe he can handle the job, the real proof will come on the field. Humphries has already had his look, and there’s little reason to think he would change the equation now.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Have A Massive Week 1 Concern On Defense
The Chiefs defensive plans for Week 1 took a late hit Friday when Chris Jones popped up on the injury report with a calf issue after not appearing there the day before. Jones was listed as limited in practice, which is enough to raise eyebrows given how central he is to Kansas Citys front and how much the unit leans on him in big divisional games.
Kansas City now has to wait until Saturdays practice to get a better read on where he stands before finalizing his game status for the season opener against the Broncos. For a defense already trying to set its tone early, any uncertainty around Jones is the kind of development that changes the conversation fast. [Read more 🡒]
Taylor Swift May Miss Kelces Opener As Bigger Chiefs Question Looms
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A Hollywood insider also reported that Swift has decided not to move to Kansas City, despite having no current tour or event obligations, a choice that suggests she will keep some distance from Kelce during the NFL season. There is still the possibility she could travel for some games, but for the Chiefs, it adds another layer to a year in which the off-field storyline will follow the on-field one wherever it goes. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Face Another Left Tackle Worry Entering Broncos Opener
The Chiefs are heading into their opener with another familiar concern on the blind side, and this one has plenty of history behind it. Since 2023, Kansas City has cycled through 10 different players at left tackle as injuries, performance issues and roster moves kept forcing the spot into flux, with Donovan Smith, Wanya Morris, Kingsley Suamataia and Josh Simmons among the names that have been asked to handle it at various points.
Now the job appears to fall to undrafted rookie Khalil Benson, a notable twist even by the standards of this unsettled stretch because he did not play the position in college. For a team that has spent the last couple of seasons trying to stabilize Patrick Mahomes protection, the Broncos opener arrives with the same basic question hanging over the line again: can Kansas City finally settle the most important spot on the edge, or is this just the latest stopgap? [Read more 🡒]