Editor's Update: After initial reports that Jawaan Taylor did not practice on Tuesday, new ones emerged that he was, in fact, on the field. What follows is the original story based on the possibility of an injury that was first reported.
The Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up for their first game of the regular season, which will take place on Friday night against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chiefs enter Week 1 seemingly healthy, with rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals, the only player of note, who is dealing with an injury. However, at the team’s final practice on Tuesday, another member of the offense, right tackle Jawaan Taylor, was not seen at the media portion, per Pete Sweeney of the Kansas City Star.
Chiefs receiver Jalen Royals was once again without a helmet for the final practice of the week on Tuesday. In our brief media look, I did not see RT Jawaan Taylor.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) September 2, 2025
Head coach Andy Reid speaks around 1 p.m. pic.twitter.com/fATZxmPD7i
As things currently stand, we don’t know if Taylor is banged up and to what extent, but the vet not being at practice isn’t a great sign. Luckily for the Chiefs, they do have another player that they can turn to, who was viewed as a disappointment earlier this summer.
New Chiefs OT Jaylon Moore Could Find Himself Starting in Week 1
The player we are talking about is none other than offensive tackle Jaylon Moore. The Chiefs signed Moore in free agency to a sizable two-year, $30 million contract with the plan that he would be their starting left tackle in 2025.
However, those plans were flipped upside down once the Chiefs drafted rookie Josh Simmons in the first round, who has the skills and upside to be a Day 1 starting tackle. With Simmons in the fold, Moore becomes an instant swing tackle behind him and Jawaan Taylor.
Based on what Moore showed on film last year with the 49ers, he might be a better option at right tackle than Taylor. According to Pro Football Focus, Moore was solid as a pass blocker (73.1 grade) and run blocker (70.1).
In 271 snaps last year, he only allowed one sack and didn’t have any penalties. If Moore could do something similar this season, Chiefs fans will take it. Taylor was horrible in run blocking last year (56.6), but okay in pass blocking (70.8).
However, the veteran offensive lineman couldn’t get out of his own way, as he was penalized 17 times and allowed seven sacks. That type of production won’t cut it for a team that has dreams of winning a Super Bowl. Kansas City doesn’t want a repeat of last year’s Super Bowl to start this season, when the offensive line got destroyed.
Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if Taylor ends up on the injury report for Week 1. If he does, Moore will have a good opportunity to prove to the fans that the team made the right move signing him in the offseason.