Andy Reid Declares Starter at Struggling Position Ahead of Week 9
The Kansas City Chiefs will continue flirting with protection when they meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFL Week 9 Monday Night Football matchup. Oddsmakers are fairly confident that Patrick Mahomes & Co. will remain perfect when all is said and done as the Chiefs are currently 8.5-point home favorites over the Buccaneers on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Even though the Chiefs are still perfect, their starting left tackle situation has been anything but that. Both Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia have struggled to help protect Mahomes, leaving Kansas City fans to wonder who'll be the No. 1 LT against the Bucs on Monday.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid shed some light on the situation following Thursday's practice.
Chiefs News: Wanya Morris to Remain Starting LT
According to Chiefs insider Matt Derrick, Reid confirmed that Morris is still the starting LT — at least for Week 9. Despite the team's struggles at the position, the Kansas City head coach also made sure to indicate that the staff still believes that both Morris and Suamataia can handle starting roles.
Andy Reid says the left tackle will remain Wanya Morris for now but reiterates the team has confidence in both him and Kingsley Suamataia as starters.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) October 31, 2024
It's not hard to understand why Chiefs fans aren't thrilled about Reid's announcement. Neither blocker has done much to prove that they're good enough to start on the offensive line, regardless of how much faith the coaching staff has in them.
Suamataia, a 2024 second-round selection, opened the season as the Chiefs' starting LT. That experiment lasted a total of two weeks after the former BYU tackle played to 42.3 pass block and 43.7 run block grades, per Pro Football Focus. He's only played six offensive snaps since then compared to 23 on special teams, showing how he's clearly fallen out of favor.
Meanwhile, it isn't as if Morris has lit the world on fire as Suamataia's replacement. The underperforming veteran has allowed 14 pressures on 208 passing downs and has played to a 50.1 offense grade — the sixth-worst grade among 76 eligible tackles in 2024.
Morris and Suamataia's continued struggles have Chiefs fans begging for general manager Brett Veach to add another left tackle. If they aren't able to acquire a reliable LT before Tuesday's trade deadline, they can always look at free agents like ex-Kansas City blocker Donovan Smith.
In the meantime, the Chiefs' struggling LT duo will try to get back on track in Week 9 against a Buccaneers' pass rush that ranks 13th in the NFL, per PFF.
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