The Kansas City Chiefs came into the night already playing shorthanded up front, missing three of their regular starters on the offensive line. And things went from bad to worse almost immediately.
On the very first play from scrimmage, left tackle Wanya Morris went down with what appeared to be a knee injury. It was a 3-yard run by Isiah Pacheco, but the real damage happened behind the play - Morris grabbed at his left knee and couldn’t put any weight on the leg as trainers helped him off the field.
He was initially looked at on the sideline, but it wasn’t long before he was carted to the locker room for further evaluation. Not the sight the Chiefs wanted to see, especially considering the already thin depth chart along the offensive line.
With Morris out, undrafted rookie Esa Pole was thrown into the fire, making his NFL debut at left tackle. That’s a tall order for any young lineman, but especially when you’re lining up against a Houston Texans front that’s known for bringing heat. Pole’s number was called in a tough spot, and he had to learn on the fly - not just about NFL speed, but about NFL pressure in a literal and figurative sense.
As of the latest update, Morris is officially listed as questionable to return with a knee injury. The Chiefs will be hoping it’s not serious, but in the meantime, all eyes are on how this reshuffled offensive line holds up - and whether Pole can rise to the challenge in one of the league’s toughest trenches.