The Chiefs’ preseason loss to the Buccaneers came with the kind of injury news that tends to matter far more than the scoreboard. Kansas City dropped to 0-2, but the bigger issue was the growing list of unavailable defenders - and the surprise absence of Alohi Gilman landed at the top of that list.
Gilman, one of Brett Veach’s major free-agent additions, was scratched shortly before kickoff because of a back injury. Then the game brought another hit when defensive end Tyreke Smith went out with a hamstring issue.
“Alohi in warm-ups had some low back spasms,” explained head coach Andy Reid after the game, “so he didn't play. Then Tyreke Smith tweaked his right hamstring. Not sure how bad that is, but it was bad enough to where he couldn't continue.”
Gilman’s absence stood out immediately because of what he brings to the secondary. The veteran safety signed a three-year deal to help fill the void left by Bryan Cook’s departure for Cincinnati, and he was brought in to give Kansas City the kind of steady, experienced presence its defensive backfield lacked a season ago. He has also moved quickly into a mentoring role with a rebuilt unit that includes several younger players, which only makes his absence more noticeable.
The Chiefs were already shorthanded at safety before Gilman was ruled out. Chamarri Conner missed the game after suffering a knee injury when he collided with wide receiver Tyquan Thornton in practice earlier this week, and Reid had already said Conner would sit as a precaution. With both veterans sidelined, Jaden Hicks and rookie free agent Xavier Nwankpa handled the first-team reps.
Kansas City’s defensive depth was thin in other spots, too. Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott has missed the entire preseason while recovering from a torn ACL.
Linebacker Jack Cochrane is out with a right knee injury, and defensive end Ashton Gillotte is dealing with a ruptured plantar fascia. Linebacker Drue Tranquill has also missed time with back spasms, while corner Mansoor Delane had just been cleared for his first preseason game.
Smith’s injury is less alarming from a roster standpoint. He appears to be on the outside looking in for a spot on the active roster, and while the Chiefs don’t have overwhelming top-to-bottom talent at defensive end, Smith did not look like a strong candidate to make the 53-man roster.
There is still time for Kansas City to get healthier before the regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos in three weeks. That gives the Chiefs some breathing room, but the steady stream of new injuries is hardly ideal - especially with Gilman now added to the list.
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