Kansas City, Missouri – As the Chiefs prepare to face the Chargers this Sunday night, quarterback Patrick Mahomes might see a new face protecting his blindside. Coach Andy Reid indicated on Monday that former Pro Bowl left tackle D.J. Humphries, who recently signed with the team after recovering from an ACL injury, could potentially start against Los Angeles. This statement came shortly after a challenging week for the offensive line, which struggled during a narrow victory over the Raiders.
“If he feels up to it, we’ll give him a chance. If he isn’t ready, then we’ll hold off,” Reid mentioned during a Zoom call. The Chiefs had high hopes for Kingsley Suamataia, a second-round draft pick, to take charge of the left tackle position. Unfortunately, Suamataia found himself struggling in his debut starts, leading the team to experiment with second-year player Wanya Morris for the role.
Morris faced significant challenges, as he was consistently outmatched by the opposing defensive rush, also resulting in penalties that worsened the situation. Following a particularly rough outing in Friday’s contest against Las Vegas, coaches Reid and Andy Hecht made the strategic choice to shift All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to left tackle while Mike Caliendo stepped in as the new guard.
Should Humphries not be ready for the matchup against the Chargers, Reid noted that this adjusted lineup might be utilized once again on Sunday. “I’d prefer to keep Joe at guard, given how effective he is there,” Reid acknowledged, “but Caliendo has also proven to be capable. We’re fortunate to have this flexibility available to us.”
The Chiefs are in urgent need of someone who can help diminish the opposing pass rush. Mahomes has been sacked 32 times this season, placing him in a tie with his rival Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert for the seventh-most in the league. Recent games have seen Mahomes under increasing pressure, having been sacked five times in each of his last two outings and at least four times in four of the last five matches.
“We have young talents who are still developing. They’re facing standout players, and unfortunately, the strong ones have taken advantage of us,” Reid stated. “However, these challenges are valuable learning experiences that will benefit them moving forward.”
Humphries, boasting eight years of experience and 98 starts with the Cardinals, offers a seasoned approach to the position. With a Pro Bowl selection three years ago, he faced a setback last season when he suffered a torn ACL late in a game against the Eagles. After dedicating the summer and early part of the season to his rehabilitation, Humphries has only recently been cleared for action.
“It’s been quite the journey,” Humphries shared. “Going through such experiences can teach you a lot about yourself. I’ve always known I was tough, but navigating through this injury, seeing messages saying things like ‘What a career you had’ was challenging for me. It felt like everyone assumed it was the end just due to my injury.”
These messages fueled Humphries’ motivation as he embarked on the road to recovery. “Injuries happen to athletes, and the important part is to bounce back,” he added. “That was never a concern for me. However, the way others perceived my situation was surprising.”
After being released by the Cardinals in March to ease salary cap constraints, Humphries initially worried about how this decision would impact his family. His 8-year-old son, Dash, however, offered an encouraging perspective, saying, “I really want you to go to Kansas City so you can play with Patrick Mahomes and maybe win a Super Bowl.” The child’s wish came with a touch of fate as it aligned perfectly with Humphries’ career journey.