The Kansas City Chiefs have no margin for error in the final stretch of the season. That's why the timing to lose both of their starting tackles couldn't have been any worse, especially with the Houston Texans up next.
Left tackle Josh Simmons was placed on injured reserve after undergoing wrist surgery. Jawaan Taylor, the right tackle, is dealing with ankle, knee, and triceps injuries, and his availability for Sunday is up in the air. According to head coach Andy Reid, Wanya Morris and Jaylon Moore will start at left and right tackle, respectively, if Taylor can't suit up:
“Yeah, well, we’ll see what happens with the injured guys first,” Reid said, per Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports. “But yeah, (Jaylon Moore would) probably be at the right tackle and Wanya (Morris) at the left, if that’s the way it went.”
That's why Moore, who arrived in Missouri to be a backup this season, could be in for the biggest audition of his career. If he does well on Sunday, he might even get the starting job for 2026 and beyond.
Jaylon Moore is Looking at a Huge Opportunity in Week 14
Taylor's job should've been in jeopardy already. He seems unable to clean up his penalty issues, constantly getting ahead of the snap and costing his team 10 precious yards. The Chiefs would clear $20 million off the books with an offseason cut or trade, per Spotrac.
Moore has already gotten the nod to start at left tackle while Simmons was out to attend an undisclosed family matter. His performances all season have been a mixed bag. Although he's struggled as a run blocker, his pass protection has been solid, as he's only given up 18 pressures on 367 opportunities (4.9%).
The Texans boast one of the strongest defenses in the game. They have an 8.3% sack rate, which is the sixth-best in the NFL, per Team Rankings. Holding his ground against them should prove that he's capable of keeping the job on a long-term basis.
Moore has proven to be a reliable depth piece for this team. The bar isn't particularly high, so the table is set for him to give the team a much-needed boost in an area of need, all while saving them some precious cap space. If he can successfully capitalize on his opportunities down the stretch, not only will Moore potentially secure his long-term future in Kansas City, but he also might be a key reason why the Chiefs make some noise this postseason.