KANSAS CITY, Mo. — D.J. Humphries, an experienced offensive tackle, made his debut on the practice field for the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday. This comes just four days after he finalized his agreement with the reigning Super Bowl champions. However, it is still uncertain when he will be ready to contribute in games.
The Chiefs have been eagerly seeking reinforcement at the left tackle position, especially due to the struggles of Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia in safeguarding quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. Consequently, general manager Brett Veach reached out to Humphries, who has been recovering from a torn ACL that occurred while playing with the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17 of the previous season.
The addition of a former Pro Bowl player is a significant move for a team aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Lombardi Trophy. Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy expressed enthusiasm about Humphries, sharing that they had a personal connection through Nagy’s past teammate in the Arena League. “Getting to meet D.J. and know what he’s about — ironically, our icebreaker, his dad and I were teammates in the Arena League in 2004. It makes you feel old. But he was great. I love his personality and he’s excited to get in here and learn what we do,” Nagy stated.
Currently, the Chiefs hold a record of 10-1 and are leading the AFC by a narrow margin over Buffalo. They are scheduled to face the Raiders this Friday at Arrowhead Stadium. However, Humphries will likely require some time to adjust due to his recent signing and the recovery from his knee injury. With just six games remaining in the regular season, Kansas City can afford to incorporate him gradually into their lineup.
“It’s probably day to day to see where he’s at,” Nagy remarked. “There’s so much that goes into it with any player that comes off an injury, and to a new team on top of that. It’s going to take some time.”
The Chiefs had a flurry of roster adjustments on Tuesday, primarily in preparation for their quick turnaround following a victory against Carolina on Sunday and their upcoming game against long-time AFC West rival Las Vegas. Kicker Spencer Shrader, who has been successful in his field goals and PATs in lieu of the injured Harrison Butker, missed practice due to a hamstring injury, which could prevent him from playing in the next game. To address this, the Chiefs added Matthew Wright, who was previously released by San Francisco, to the practice squad.
To make room for Humphries, tight end Peyton Hendershot was placed on injured reserve due to a calf injury. Meanwhile, linebacker Cameron Thomas did not participate in practice due to illness. Additionally, offensive lineman Lucas Niang and defensive lineman Truman Jones were released from the practice squad, while tight end Baylor Cupp was reinstated.
Further roster moves may be on the horizon, as running back Isiah Pacheco and pass rusher Charles Omenihu aim to take the field on Friday. Pacheco has been sidelined since Week 2, following a fractured right fibula against Cincinnati, but has been practicing for the last couple of weeks. The team has opted to be cautious with the energetic running back as he returns.
Kareem Hunt has performed admirably in Pacheco’s absence, but bringing Pacheco back would enhance the Chiefs’ backfield depth and versatility. “The best part about that is you don’t have just one where he’s getting worn down, to where he’s 50 or 60 percent in the third quarter. Now you have two that are working at 100 percent,” Nagy explained. “When they’re up and running, we feel pretty strong about who they are and how much they can help us, and we’re excited about it.”
Similarly, the Chiefs are eager to see Omenihu return for the first time since tearing his right ACL in the playoffs, especially since the team’s pass rush has struggled, with only four NFL teams recording fewer than their 21 sacks. “Charles’ versatility, going inside and out, adds another level of depth to our defense, especially the D-line,” noted Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. “And he’s a pass rusher. It’s always good to get more pass rushers on the field.”