The Kansas City Chiefs took a few steps forward as a team with their 31-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead on Sunday, but they took a massive step back on the defensive line with the loss of Omarr-Norman Lott. As it was announced on Monday, Norman-Lott has a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
In response, what was once a trade that would've been satisfying for sentimental value may now have to be one of necessity.
Mike Pennel, who signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in the offseason after winning two AFC Championships, is being spoken about as a formality to return to the Chiefs via trade ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline.
His former teammate, Chris Jones, was quick to urge his employer to bring Pennel back to help fix everything that has gone wrong following his departure from the defense.
“Hopefully, life goes full circle when we get my guy back,” Jones said, via the Chiefs' official YouTube page. “Mike Pennel is a heck of a locker-room guy. And so many things I can say about my brother. We got to get my brother back.”
Chiefs Should Listen to Stars on How to Improve the Roster
After years of success, Chiefs Kingdom is in a very vulnerable place right now. Kansas City has managed to right the ship after a 0-2 start, but that doesn't mean there aren't valid concerns about Super Bowl fatigue and the overall age of the roster, along with Father Time, catching up to the defending AFC champs.
Perhaps it's not such a stark downturn in talent, but rather a locker room that has grown complacent watching great players come and go. GM Brett Veach should probably listen to his best players on who to bring aboard to right the ship. Especially in a spot like this one, where injuries are driving the decision-making process.
If he does so, this team isn't far off from being great. Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes. Steve Spagnuolo still has the defense humming, as the Raiders' shutout proved. And Andy Reid is still among the most popular coaches in the game.
For the first time in what seems like a while, Kansas City is facing some real adversity on the football field. It'd be nice to bring back some of the positive pieces from their run of dominance that got away for various reasons, especially if a star like Jones is asking for it.