Kansas City Chiefs: First quarter report card for 2019

The Offensive Line

Eric Fisher, Left Tackle: Incomplete

He played all of Week 1 against the Jaguars, but after an injury in practice leading up to the game against the Raiders, he’s played very little. He gave it a go in Oakland on the first series before quickly bowing out.

Cam Erving, Offensive Lineman: B

Valiant effort and solid play on the behalf of Erving at left tackle since Fisher’s injury. Before the season, I had concerns that the Chiefs had little depth when it came to a true back-up tackle. Instead, the Chiefs were relying on several guys who could play multiple positions along the line. Which is fine, when one can handle the tackle position. Thankfully, Erving has proven that he can.

Andrew Wylie, Left Guard: B

Austin Reiter, Center: B

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Right Guard: B

Mitchell Schwartz, Right Tackle: B

I’m giving the rest of the line the same grade as Erving, too. This line isn’t anything earth-shattering. This isn’t the offensive line behind which Emmitt Smith ran to glory in Dallas in the early ’90s. But it also doesn’t need to be.

And while I would like to see the Chiefs run game pick it up, it should also be pointed out that this line has done a stellar job keeping Mahomes clean. In four games, he’s been sacked only three times. Some of the credit goes to the fleet-footed quarterback, and some goes to this line.

The depth remains a concern. If another starter goes down while Fisher is still out, then Reid and Bieniemy will have some shuffling to do with the likes of veteran Jeff Allen, rookie Nick Allegretti out of Illinois, and second-year pro Martinas Rankin out of Mississippi State, acquired right before the season started in a trade for Carlos Hyde.