The short flirtation between Week 12 and Week 13 turned out to be only that for Esa Pole in the short term. But the fact that the Kansas City Chiefs even made the overture that they did could signal a bigger commitment when all is said and done.

Pole, a rookie offensive tackle for the Chiefs, was promoted by the team from the practice squad to the active roster, along with safety Mike Edwards, for the Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys. With such a move came hopes for Pole that he might actually make his professional debut—a dream come true for any football player. As it turns out, Pole was left on the team’s inactive list despite the elevated status.

Despite the short week, Chiefs Kingdom was excited about the potential of Pole climbing the franchise’s depth chart, which is why some fans were trying to read the organizational tea leaves to see how the tackle might squeeze his way into the mix.

With Trey Smith injured at right guard, it’s possible the Chiefs could have called upon Jaylon Moore to slide inside, away from his usual swing tackle role. K.C. also left offensive tackle Wanya Morris inactive one week prior, in a close victory over the Indianapolis Colts, which seemed to insinuate that the vet might be falling out of favor. Put it all together, and there was a clear path for Pole to become new swing tackle with Moore taking reps at guard and Morris on the outs.

Esa Pole’s promotion hints at growing trust from the Chiefs and a position room preparing for major offseason change.

As it turned out, Moore remained at swing tackle, and Morris was back on the active list, which left Pole as the odd tackle out on game day. But the hype can still give way to hope for Pole (and his fans).

The Chiefs signed Pole as a rookie free agent tackle following the 2025 NFL Draft out of Washington State, and he became a favored prospect by the team’s coaching staff. The New York Jets claimed him when the Chiefs couldn’t find room on the active roster, but they got him back in late October when the Jets released him again. Pole has been on K.C.’s practice squad ever since.

With Pole’s elevation from the practice squad so late in the season, it shows that they view him as a player on the verge of making an impact. The warning sent to Morris still stands as he turns the corner toward a contract year in 2025. Pole is still knocking on the same door as before, even if he wasn’t activated in Week 13.

It’s also possible that the current injury conundrum at the position is going to give Pole even more momentum toward an active roster spot. Josh Simmons is sidelined with a wrist injury, and Jawaan Taylor suffered an anle injury in Week 13 as well. Moore will be starting in place of Simmons until he’s back in the lineup, which means these extra tackle spots are suddenly far more important than before.

The Chiefs also have a very real need for more long-term talent at the position, knowing that Jawaan Taylor could be cut this offseason to save money. Jaylon Moore is also scheduled to hit free agency after 2026 (as is Morris), which leaves the position thin in terms of reliable depth for the long haul. Josh Simmons is in place as the left tackle up front, but the Chiefs would love nothing more than to see Pole emerge as a real candidate for reps.

Of course, it’s easy to get carried away and forget that Pole went undrafted six months ago and has been cut twice so far this season. It’s irresponsible to project great things on a player who is not even on the active roster. But the Chiefs have made it clear that they like what they see from him at this stage of his development, and it’s a safe bet that he’ll be given an invitation to come back for the 2026 campaign. Perhaps there’s something more coming before then as well.