Kansas City’s head coach was upbeat about his new left tackle, but wouldn’t commit to starting him in the playoffs.
One of the players we were watching carefully during the Kansas City Chiefs’ 38-0 loss to the Denver Broncos last Sunday was D.J. Humphries, who started the game at left tackle and played 94% of the offensive snaps.
The team had signed the veteran offensive lineman on November 22 to take over the position that neither second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia or second-year player Wanya Morris had been able to hold down. But in his first start against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 8, Humpries suffered a hamstring injury that kept him out of the next three games.
So Sunday’s game was the last opportunity for Kansas City’s coaches to see if Humphries is ready to step into the role in the postseason — which would allow the team to move Joe Thuney back into his normal (and ideal) position at left guard. Thuney has been playing left tackle (with reserve offensive lineman Mike Caliendo filling in at left guard) since Humprhries’ injury.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, head coach Andy Reid said he liked what he saw from his newest offensive lineman.
“I thought D.J. did a pretty good job there,” he said. “[There were a] few plays he’d probably like to have back — but he’s headed in the right direction.”
Still, Reid was unwilling to be pinned down about which player would get the start at left tackle in next weekend’s Divisional round game.
“I haven’t made any decisions on that — which direction to go — right this minute,” he revealed, “so we’ll see. We’ll get there by the time we get [to] the end of next week.”
While Reid is undoubtedly aware that this might be the biggest personnel question the team now faces, he spoke like a man with bigger fish to fry.
“The best part is that they both are good players,” he noted, “and Caliendo’s playing well, too. So I’m not too worried about that whole situation. We’ll just see how it plays out.”
Reid reminded his listeners that offensive line coach Andy Heck will continue to rotate his linemen through all positions during the coming practices, giving the coaching staff plenty of information about their strengths and weaknesses.
“They’ll all get work,” said Reid, “and we’ll just go from there. But obviously, you want the best combination. I think in this case, you’ve got three guys there that are pretty good players.”