The Kansas City Chiefs lost more than a chance to make the playoffs in Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Offensive tackle Jaylon Moore left the game with a knee injury (h/t @pgsween), occurring in the first quarter via a questionable hit from Chargers safety Derwin James (h/t @ProFootballDoc), leaving Chiefs fans concerned if the 27-year-old blocker would miss any time.
Regardless of the severity, Moore's knee injury only adds to his rocky 2025 campaign. The Chiefs likely didn't envision his stay being as bumpy as it's been when they signed the ex-San Francisco 49ers OT to a two-year, $30 million contract in the offseason.
With how tough knee injuries can be on offensive lineman, it's safe to say that Moore's future in Kansas City is suddenly cloudier than before.
Jaylon Moore Dealing with Cloudy Chiefs Outlook After Week 15 Knee Injury
When the Chiefs brought Moore to town, the hope was that he could one day take over as a starter on Patrick Mahomes' line of protection. Wanya Morris has more than proven he can't handle that role, while Jawaan Taylor's inconsistent play has left him as a potential offseason cut/trade candidate, giving Moore every reason to go out and impress the coaching staff.
Instead, Moore's performance has left much to be desired, and his new injury doesn't help. Including Week 15's 26 snaps before getting hurt, the former Western Michigan Bronco has already allowed 26 pressures (21 hurries, three sacks, two quarterback hits), offering Mahomes solid protection on some nights and next to none on others.
What's even more disappointing is that, including Sunday, Moore has only started four times this season after starting five times with the 49ers last season. It's going to be tough for him to change that trajectory now that Esa Pole has forced his way into the starting lineup, while Taylor and Morris could return from their respective injuries in the near future.
If Moore can't show any potential down the stretch, it'll be interesting to see what happens with him next season. There's no indication that the Chiefs will move on from him already; however, it's worth noting that a trade at any point in the offseason will create $15 million in savings, while a cut would free up $8 million in salary cap space, according to Spotrac.
If that appeals to general manager Brett Veach, the Chiefs could say goodbye to Moore, using any saved cash to help flesh out the roster. Considering how moving on from Taylor could also free up another $20 million, a total offensive line revamp might be worth it for a Kansas City team that's projected to be more than $34.1 million over the 2026 salary cap.
The next updates on Moore's knee injury will be telling. If it's not severe, he'll like have multiple opportunities in the next few weeks to challenge for a starting job.
But if not, and he's forced to miss an extended amount of time, it's going to be difficult to picture him as a starter (or, potentially, with the Chiefs at all) in 2026.