The Chiefs are down another offensive lineman. This time it’s left tackle Wanya Morris, who is done for the season with a knee injury, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Morris was injured during the first offensive play of last night’s game, when he was rolled up on by center Creed Humphrey. The lineman was helped off the field before being assisted to the locker room on a cart. Per ESPN’s Nate Taylor, Morris was spotted leaving the locker room with crutches last night.
The former third-round pick was only in the lineup because first-round rookie Josh Simmons recently landed on injured reserve. The starting left tackle will be forced to miss at least the next three games as he recovers from surgery on a dislocated and fractured left wrist.
The Chiefs were also without right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who is dealing with a triceps injury, and right guard Trey Smith, who has missed a pair of games thanks to an ankle injury. That meant Kansas City had to rely on three backups on their offensive line: Morris, OT Jaylon Moore, and G Mike Caliendo.
Morris got an extended look at OT in 2024, as the Oklahoma product started 11 of his 17 appearances. However, he was benched following the late-season signing of D. J. Humphries, and Morris had to play a backup role during the Chiefs’ run through the AFC. In total, the 25-year-old has seen time on 66 offensive snaps this season.
Rookie Esa Pole filled in admirably for Morris in his NFL debut yesterday. Per ESPN, Pole only allowed a single pressure in 21 snaps against Texans pass rusher Danielle Hunter. Moore is fully entrenched as the team’s swing tackle, so Pole’s chances of starting his first NFL game will depend on Taylor’s availability for Week 15.