The Chiefs got one problem solved at the trade deadline, but the bigger headache is still staring them in the face.
By bringing in Josh Downs, Kansas City addressed a major need and gave itself a little more help where it matters. But the move didn’t fix everything, and the offensive tackle spot remains the team’s most obvious weak link. The Chiefs entered the deadline with multiple issues, and only one of them got handled.
There’s still plenty to sort out with the pass rush, too. Kansas City has had stretches where it got after the quarterback effectively, but it has also disappeared in other games.
Even so, there’s at least a path to improvement there. George Karlaftis has been good, R Mason Thomas has real potential, Chris Jones may still have a little juice left, and Steve Spagnuolo may still have a few blitzes up his sleeve.
The tackle situation doesn’t offer nearly the same comfort.
The Chiefs’ best hope for stability there is Josh Simmons, and even that comes with a giant question mark. If he’s not ready to play, Kansas City is left trying to survive with the options it already has. That means building game plans around shaky protection on the outside and hoping the damage stays manageable.
Kahlil Benson has flashed some promise, but he’s still a long way from dependable. Pro Football Focus has him 68th out of 71 qualified offensive tackles in pass protection.
He hasn’t allowed a sack, but he has given up 13 quarterback hits, which is dead last among offensive tackles. In other words, Patrick Mahomes has been forced to get rid of the ball before Benson’s man can land a clean shot.
Benson has been strong as a run blocker, and if Simmons were healthy at left tackle, the Chiefs could at least concentrate on helping Benson on the right side. But when an overachieving undrafted rookie who is surrendering a pile of QB hits is your best tackle, that’s not a great place to be.
Jaylon Moore hasn’t been much better. He’s been worse than Benson in the run game, and while he has allowed only five QB hits, he has also given up five sacks.
Moore left last week’s game with an ankle injury and didn’t practice on Tuesday. If he can’t play this week, Joshua Ezeudu would likely step in at right tackle.
Ezeudu has barely seen the field, and the limited snaps he has played have included a couple of ugly pass-rush losses.
Maybe there’s something to develop there. So far, though, nothing about that sample says he’s the answer.
That leaves Andy Reid with the familiar task of protecting Mahomes by design. Expect more help from backs and tight ends on the edge, plus quick throws that let Mahomes unload the ball fast. Downs could help in that kind of passing game, and if Kansas City keeps running the ball well with Kenneth Walker, play-action can create some cleaner looks, too.
The Chiefs aren’t helpless. They’re 6-2, and they’ve looked like one of the better AFC teams so far despite the flaws. But the tackle issue is still the one that looms largest, and how Kansas City handles it down the stretch and into the playoffs may end up being the biggest thing to watch.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Face A Backfield Question Before Falcons Matchup
A late-week injury note has added a little uncertainty to Kansas Citys backfield ahead of its matchup with Atlanta. Kenneth Walker was held out of practice Friday because of a tight groin and is now listed as questionable, giving the Chiefs one more thing to monitor as they prepare for a game that comes with plenty of attention for a team sitting at 6-2.
Andy Reid offered updates on Walkers condition as the Chiefs worked through their final prep, and the timing matters with the roster already seeing movement elsewhere. Kansas City recently added wide receiver Josh Downs from the Indianapolis Colts, so the offense is adjusting on multiple fronts while trying to keep its momentum intact against the Falcons. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Suddenly Have A Familiar Late-Season Receiver Question
Marquise Brown is suddenly back on the market, with the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly waiving the veteran receiver after just four appearances this season. Brown signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia in March after spending the previous two seasons with the Chiefs, so his availability immediately brings a familiar name back into the conversation for Kansas City at a time when receiver depth always draws extra attention.
If Brown is claimed off waivers, he will finish the season elsewhere, which leaves the Chiefs to watch a situation that feels a little too familiar for this time of year. Even without any certainty about where he lands, his exit from Philadelphia reopens a late-season question Kansas City knows well: whether a former contributor might become part of the picture again when the stretch run gets tight. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Get A Familiar Sunday Broadcast For Rare Falcons Trip
The Chiefs rare trip to Atlanta comes with a familiar Sunday afternoon feel, at least for viewers back home. Kansas City will face the Falcons at noon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the game will air locally on KCTV (Ch. 5) with CBS Sports top broadcast team on the call.
For a team that has spent much of the season in the national spotlight, the broadcast assignment is another reminder of how closely every Chiefs game is being watched. The Week 10 slate also comes with a full set of NFL broadcast pairings, but this one stands out because of the matchup itself, with Kansas City heading to a building it does not visit often and trying to handle business on the road in a spot that has not been kind to the franchise in years. [Read more 🡒]