Entering the 2025 season, the Kansas City Chiefs faced major concerns about their offensive line — particularly at left tackle.

After entering the spring without a solution under contract, the team used its first-round draft pick on Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons. Then after trading left guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears, the team filled his spot with second-year pro Kinglsey Suamataia — whose own tenure at left tackle a year ago lasted only seven quarters.

Before Wednesday’s practice, the leader of Kansas City’s offensive line gave these two young players a strong endorsement.

“They’re both improving each week,” said center Creed Humphrey, “and they’re both coming in with the right mindset. [They’re ]working on the things they need to work on — and they’ve gotten better throughout the past two weeks. [I’m] continuing to hope to see a good jump from them.”

Since entering the NFL in 2021, Humphrey has known nothing but winning. In three of his four seasons, he’s started in the Super Bowl. Now facing an 0-2 start for the first time in his career, he knows what the offensive line must do to help the Chiefs get the season’s first win against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium this Sunday night.

“[By] starting fast,” remarked Humphrey. “Coming out of the gate, playing hard, [being] physical, great fundamentally — all those things — and finishing plays. If our guys get tackled, we’re there to pick them up — things like that.

“So just leading from an energy standpoint: coming out fast, playing physical and setting the tone for the guys early.”

With the Chiefs dropping their first two games against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Chargers — and with the Baltimore Ravens looming in Week 4 — many see the Giants matchup as an opportunity to get right. Humphrey, however, is focused on New York’s strength: a fierce defensive front anchored by defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence — one that now includes rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter, who was the third overall selection in April’s draft.

“They have a really good defensive front,” the center observed. “[They’re] really good at all positions, too — so it’s not just one standout guy here [and] there. They have, across the board, really good players. So it’s going to be a great challenge for us. I’m excited to see how our guys work this week.”

Many have been questioning Kansas City’s issues with its running game. Humphrey doesn’t know if more running plays will be called to diversify the team’s struggling offense — or if the team’s pass-heavy approach (which may be amplified by the potential return of injured wideouts Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals) — will continue. But he and his fellow offensive linemen will be ready for whatever the Chiefs choose.

“We’re just going to run what’s called,” he declared. “So for us, it’s when those runs are called, we make sure we do what we need to do. We have a ton of talent in that receiver room, so we’re excited about them, too.”