The hits keep coming for the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, and not in a good way. On an evening in which they're already losing to the Dallas Cowboys, they're also watching key players leave the game due to injury. The latest news comes along the offensive line, where the Chiefs are trying to move forward with two backup tackles.
After a red-hot first quarter in which the Chiefs offense put up 14 points, the unit has struggled to move the chains (and has certainly been hurt by poor officiating). Things are even tougher knowing that Wanya Morris and Jaylon Moore are lined up at left and right tackle, respectively.
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was the first to exit the game with an elbow injury that originally had him designated as questionable to return. However, he was downgraded to out in the third quarter, which forced Jaylon Moore to become a permanent fixture along the offensive front for the duration of the game as the team's swing tackle.
Shortly after Taylor was declared out for the rest of the game, the Chiefs also watched left tackle Josh Simmons leave with a wrist injury. In his place, the Chiefs went with OT4, Wanya Morris, who was the swing tackle a year ago and has been an oft-relied upon substitute given the team's issues on the left side in recent seasons.
The good news for the Chiefs is that they ended up scoring a touchdown on the first drive in which they were leaning on two backups to handle the job. Considering that the Chiefs were already asking Mike Caliendo to start the game in place of Trey Smith, who was forced to sit in Week 13 due to ankle injuries, Patrick Mahomes might have to finish the job with three backup offensive linemen.
If any further issues arise at tackle, the Chiefs are likely out of options and would ask someone like Kingsley Suamataia or Caliendo to slide outside while asking Hunter Nourzad to take over along the offensive interior. The team had Esa Pole promoted from the practice squad but left him inactive.