The Kansas City Chiefs’ issues at left tackle have been well-documented this season. On Friday, the Chiefs benched another player they started at the position.
The Chiefs made rookie Kingsley Suamataia a healthy scratch in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills. The second-round pick struggled in the Chiefs’ 16-14 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 10, giving up one sack, three hits and seven pressures.
Kansas City turned to second-year offensive tackle Wanya Morris to start while Suamataia was a healthy scratch in Week 11 and on the sideline in Week 12. However, head coach Andy Reid pulled Morris following a troubling performance against the Raiders on Friday.
The Chiefs moved Joe Thuney to left tackle and brought in Mike Caliendo to play guard. Per video by KSHB, Reid said after the game he conferred with offensive line coach Andy Heck to pull Morris because Patrick Mahomes “took a few hits” thanks to poor blocks by Morris.
Per Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star, Morris admitted after the game that he wasn’t playing well. The 24-year-old said he needed to try something new.
“There’s no better time to learn than when you get your (expletive) beat,” Morris said. “It sucks to get your (expletive) beat, but you can have two responses: You can lay down or you can get back up and try something new. I’m going to try something new.”
Wanya Morris: There’s no better time to learn than when you get your ass beat. It sucks to get your ass beat, but you can have two responses: You can lay down or you can get back up and try something new. I’m going to try something new.
— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) November 29, 2024
Mahomes was under constant duress against the Raiders defense on Friday. He was sacked five times for 40 yards.
The Chiefs would ultimately prevail at Arrowhead Stadium in a tight 19-17 game to improve to 11-1 in 2024. Kansas City clinched a spot in the postseason.
The Chiefs signed veteran offensive tackle D.J. Humphries on Tuesday, but he was made inactive for Friday’s game.