The Kansas City Chiefs simply can't catch a break with their offensive line. Josh Simmons has yet to play this season, and while undrafted free agent Khalil Benson has done an amazing job as his replacement, they have had way too many different bodies protecting Patrick Mahomes.
That will most likely be the case again in Week 10 when the Chiefs face the Atlanta Falcons on the road. Jaylon Moore left the game against the New York Jets with an ankle injury, putting his availability up in the air.
Josh Simmons' freak back injury will cost him at least one more week before he's eligible to return from Injured Reserve (IR). That might leave Joshua Ezeudu to handle things at right tackle against a defense that's pretty good at getting to the quarterback in the Falcons.
Chiefs tackle situation remains a revolving door with another Jaylon Moore injury
The Chiefs have done a terrible job handling Josh Simmons' situation. They've been way too secretive about it, and they've gone back and forth way too many times, which has obviously led to speculation and rumors.
The fact that they haven't made a move to add a bona fide offensive tackle makes it seem like they honestly believe he'll be back and available at some point this season. However, evidence suggests otherwise, and they can't bank all their hope on that.
Jaylon Moore might not be a stalwart, but he's definitely better and more battle-tested than Ezeudu. Regardless, he's better suited for a backup/swing tackle role, and the Chiefs should've never been in this position to begin with.
Their salary cap situation isn't particularly great, so unless they can convince Taylor Decker or Jack Conklin to take a massive discount as late-season free agent additions, they will probably have to settle with below-tier veterans available for a trade.
Whatever the case, the Chiefs must do something. The November 10 trade deadline looms large, and with no certainty about whether Simmons will be available at any point in the season, not bringing in more help feels like a disservice.
To add insult to injury, Mahomes took a big hit to the elbow in the win, and he was clearly hurt and in serious discomfort. While it's hard to believe that will force him to miss the road game vs. the Falcons, Kevin Stefanski's hard-hitting defense knows how to put pressure at the line of scrimmage, and he could be in for a long day in the office if he plays behind a makeshift offensive line again.
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