Tag: Wanya Morris

Chiefs HC Andy Reid reveals the reason Kingsley Suamataia was Inactive in Week 11

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reveals the reason Kingsley Suamataia was Inactive in Week 11 | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke to the media on Monday for his weekly Zoom press conference. He revealed his reason for keeping rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia inactive for Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills.

“Yeah, Kingsley (Suamataia) is gonna be okay. It’s just sometimes you take a step back, take a step forward,” said Reid. “That’s what we felt we needed to do there. So we’ll go from there and see how things work out here as he continues to work forward.”

Suamataia’s struggles as the starter are noted throughout the early parts of the season, as Wanya Morris has taken the reigns back in recent weeks. Reid addressed his performance and the potential of adding a veteran in free agency.

“So I actually thought Wanya (Morris) got a little bit better. This week, he’s been doing that for the most part every week, but the injury stepped on it last week for a while,” said Reid. “But I felt like he did some good things for a young guy; he improved and will continue to improve with reps there, and then, as far as the veteran player goes, (Brett) Veach is always keeping his eyes so he would be the one that heads that up and, he bird dogs, all that.”

The Chiefs will look to start a new winning streak this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. With a few games left before the postseason, they need victories to remain atop the AFC.

Chiefs bench struggling rookie OL for Week 11 matchup vs. Bills

#Chiefs rookie Kingsley Suamataia has been benched for Kansas City’s Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo #Bills.

The Kansas City Chiefs decided to bench rookie offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia for their Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo Bills this afternoon.

Suamataia was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft and made significant strides toward earning the starting left tackle spot on Kansas City’s front five during training camp and thee preseason.

However, the former BYU Cougar has struggled to find his footing during the regular season and put together a disastrous performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 10.

Veteran lineman Wanya Morris is set to start at left tackle for the Chiefs against Buffalo:

The fact that Suamataia has been benched isn’t necessarily an indication that Kansas City’s coaching staff has lost faith in him, but it also doesn’t bode well for the rookie’s chances of seeing significant playing time later this season.

Stay tuned to see how Morris performs against the Bills’ outstanding defensive line with Suamataia out of action.

Is Wanya Morris playing today? Injury updates for Chiefs OL

#Chiefs OL Wanya Morris is dealing with a knee injury. Here are the latest updates.

The Kansas City Chiefs will need offensive tackle Wanya Morris to protect Patrick Mahomes in their highly anticipated Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo Bills this afternoon.

Wanya Morris injury update

Morris was listed on Kansas City’s injury report this week after missing part of the Chiefs’ showdown against the Denver Broncos last Sunday.

He is said to have a knee injury heading into the Chiefs’ matchup against Buffalo, but his condition was not severe enough to keep him from practicing this week.

How long will Wanya Morris be out?

Morris is expected to be active for Kansas City in Week 11. Fans should keep an eye on Morris’ status as the game progresses, especially if he seems to aggravate his knee injury.

Chiefs T depth chart

Should Morris need to leave the game, rookie offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia will be called upon to take his place. The Chiefs could also move right tackle Jawaan Taylor’s backup, Ethan Driskell, over to the left tackle position if needed.

Bills vs. Chiefs: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 11

Bills vs. Chiefs: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 11

The Buffalo Bills will host the Kansas City Chiefs in their upcoming Week 11 matchup.

Even though these two teams are extremely familiar with one another, it will still be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Bills-Chiefs contest:

Bills running backs vs. Chiefs front seven

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The Bills have enjoyed a resurgence in their running game this year. James Cook has had 80 or more rushing yards in three of his last five games, and he has five rushing touchdowns over that stretch. Buffalo has found a true complement to Josh Allen’s passing game. But, rushing yards should be tougher to come by this week.

The Chiefs allow the third-fewest rushing yards per game this year (83.2). And, advanced metrics back up their play, too. Kansas City ranks second in the NFL in defense rushing DVOA.

Whoever wins this matchup will play a big role in the game. If the Bills can run the ball effectively, it will open up anything they want to do on offense. If they can’t, they’ll have to rely on the arm and legs of Allen.

DE Greg Rousseau vs. LT Wanya Morris

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Kansas City’s left tackle has had his struggles this year, and he’s coming off a knee injury in Week 10. Rousseau, on the other hand, is having his best season as a pro.

Morris ranks as the 62nd-best offensive tackle in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus, while Rousseau grades as the eighth-best pass rusher among edge defenders.

Rousseau has just 5.5 sacks through ten games, but he has been consistently getting after the passer. He ranks fourth in the NFL with 19 QB knockdowns and is tied for 10th in the NFL with 22 pressures.

Patrick Mahomes vs. the second level of Bills’ D

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The Chiefs quarterback loves to get the ball out quickly in head coach Andy Reid’s offense. They put a lot of trust in their skill players to catch underneath passes and produce yards after the catch. In turn, this puts a lot of stress on Bills defenders to make plays in space.

More specifically, Buffalo’s linebackers (and slot corner Taron Johnson) will have their hands full while trying to stop the run, cover the pass, and make sound tackles in space.

When these teams met in the divisional round of last season’s playoffs, the Bills were without Terrel Bernard in the middle of the defense. They had trouble on defense in that game, so we will see what kind of difference Bernard can make in this rivalry.

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid responds to free agent veteran offensive lineman’s social media post

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid responds to free agent veteran offensive lineman Donovan Smith’s social media post | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Monday during his weekly Zoom press conference. He gave his thoughts on free agent and former Chiefs left tackle Donovan Smith’s social media post, indicating that he’s available if the team needs a veteran offensive tackle.

“Listen, that’s in (Brett) Veach’s area. I mean, he looks at everything. So I’m not going to say no, but what we do as coaches, and we overemphasize, is we’re going to focus on these kids that are here,” said Reid. “They’re getting better. I know it’s hard to see at times, but there’s progress being made, and we’re going to be okay as we go forward.”

Reid continues to support his current young tandem of left tackles who struggled in last Sunday’s victory over the Denver Broncos. Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia have started games and rotated on the offensive line.

Smith was the starting left tackle on last year’s Chiefs Super Bowl-winning team, along with his previous title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. The 31-year-old wasn’t re-signed in the offseason and is still interested in returning to Kansas City if necessary.

Wanya Morris injury vs Broncos: Latest news on Chiefs OL

#Chiefs OL Wanya Morris sustained a knee injury against the #Broncos in Week 10. Here are the latest updates.

Today the Kansas City Chiefs are battling the Denver Broncos in an AFC West showdown at Arrowhead Stadium.

During the game, starting left tackle Wanya Morris sustained a knee injury that forced him to leave the field in the first half.

Wanya Morris injury update

After evaluating Morris in the medical tent, the Chiefs downgraded Morris’ status to questionable to return due to a right knee injury. It is unclear how serious his injury is.

How long will Wanya Morris be out?

Ideally, Morris would be able to return in this matchup. But, given the uncertainty about the extent of his injury, it remains unclear exactly how long fans should expect him to be sidelined.

Stay tuned for more details on his condition when the team provides an update.

 

Chiefs LT depth chart

Without Morris Kansas City will rely heavily on rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia, who was among the Chiefs’ most impressive players in the preseason. With third-stringer Ethan Driskell out in this matchup, Kansas City is short on depth at left tackle.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid comments on the offensive line’s progress: ‘They’re good players’

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid comments on the offensive line’s progress: ‘They’re good players’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed his offensive line during Wednesday’s press conference, focusing on the game packages featuring extra offensive tackles recently required to be eligible as receivers.

“So, our called player was 64 (Wanya Morris), so we could sub Kingsley (Suamataia) out. When we put Mike (Caliendo) in, and Mike could come in – you have to sub the guy out – the called player,” said Reid. “So, to do what we were trying to do, you had to make that move, but I mean, it shows you the trust that we have in Kingsley, too, because we came in and threw the ball. It didn’t matter what the play was. We have two good young guys. They’re getting better as we go.”

Reid has rarely had an issue regarding his highly praised interior offensive line, as each player is dominant in their roles with All-Pro accolades.

“Well, they’re (Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey, and Joe Thuney) all best buddies; they’re always together. They’re good players, and they work at it. They’ve played together long enough where they kind of know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and cover up the weakness with each other’s strengths.” said Reid. “Again, these challenges that we had – and this week won’t be any different. Their (Denver Broncos) inside guys are great, so it’ll be another big challenge for those inside three to execute. Just like last week was, that was a big challenge. They’re good friends, they spend a lot of time together, they study, they’re smart guys.”

The offensive line’s play has dramatically benefited the running game, as Kansas City remains one of the league’s better-rushing teams. The rotation of running backs due to injury hasn’t affected the on-field production, with Kareem Hunt quickly emerging as a standout in the group this season.

Chiefs coaching staff continues to evaluate options at left tackle through bye week

Kansas City #Chiefs coaching staff continues to evaluate options at left tackle through bye week | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid held his first Zoom press conference since the bye week on Monday. He addressed the ongoing battle for the starting left tackle position ahead of the Week 7 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

“We obviously looked at that, and both of them can do better, and so Wanya (Morris) knows what he’s got to work on, and likewise, Kingsley (Suamataia) does,” said Reid. “We’re lucky to have both the guys, both young guys, and we’re kind of growing with them here. So we’ll just let that process keep rolling.”

Suamataia won the starting left tackle job out of training camp and began the season in that role. He struggled in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals, which led to his benching in the fourth quarter in favor of Morris. The rookie remains highly valued by Reid and the coaching staff but has some things to work on regarding his consistency.

Morris has started the last few games and is used in the occasional big packages with Suamataia. The second-year offensive tackle has also faced criticism for recent penalties as he works on his effectiveness. Both players will likely be interchangeable for the rest of the season, barring any shocking moves at the trade deadline.

Chiefs scouting report: West Virginia Mountaineers OT Wyatt Milum

West Virginia Mountaineers offensive lineman Wyatt Milum would be an ideal target for the Kansas City #Chiefs in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs rostered four rookie offensive linemen for this season to solve depth concerns in their front five. The unit achieved mixed results in the Chiefs’ first four games when the rookies and second-year left tackle Wanya Morris saw the field.

Kansas City must continue investing in its offensive line to sustain its budding dynasty.

West Virginia Mountaineers offensive tackle Wyatt Milum would be an ideal target for Chiefs general manager Brett Veach in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft.

He started at right tackle as a freshman and is in the midst of his third season playing left tackle. Milum lacks the traditional arm length measurements to play offensive tackle in the NFL, and his skills project well inside at guard.

Milum didn’t allow a single pressure during West Virginia’s first four games and posted standout performances against Kansas and Pittsburgh in recent weeks. He uses his play strength, controlled footwork, and patient hands to frame blocks well and build a strong technical foundation. Milum rarely suffers fundamental breakdowns in pass protection.

Milum drops his sturdy anchor once defenders engage with him and uses his combative upper body to knock pass rushers off balance. Milum looks for opportunities to torque defenders out of their stances and pancake them. That finishing mentality pops on his film in pass protection and the run game.

Milum’s open-field speed and movement skills help him pull and pick off second-level defenders for wide zone or gap runs. He uses his leg drive and motor to dig out defensive ends on inside zone runs and widen the B-gap.

West Virginia goes on the road to challenge 3-2 Oklahoma State at 3:00 p.m. CST this Saturday. The Cowboys lost each of their last two games while the Mountaineers are returning from their off week.

Chiefs scouting report: Ohio State Buckeyes OT Josh Simmons

The Kansas City #Chiefs could address their depth at offensive tackle by selecting Ohio State’s Josh Simmons in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs invested plenty of draft picks and free agent money in offensive tackles over the past two years. They shouldn’t stop. Left tackle Jawaan Taylor saw his level of play drop significantly after arriving in Kansas City, and young draft picks Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia aren’t yet starting-caliber linemen.

Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid make the situation work because they’re generational geniuses, but Kansas City can’t rely on that duo to cover for sub-par offensive tackle play forever. The Chiefs should invest more draft picks into developing their offensive line.

Ohio State Buckeyes lineman Josh Simmons started at both left and right tackle in recent years. He is unofficially listed at 6 foot 5 inches tall and 310 pounds and has arms that surpass the league’s thresholds to play offensive tackle. Simmons needs to refine his kick step and slide, but he flashes the explosiveness to handle speedsters and wide-alignment rushers.

Simmons’ lower half has room to fill out, but his upper body pops on tape. He delivers powerful blows in pass protection that stun pass rushers. Simmons’ hands pack the knockback to stall the defender’s rush plan, and his strong arm extensions lock defenders out of his frame.

Defenders struggle to play through Simmons’ frame in the run game. Simmons must play with better balance as a run blocker to sustain his assignments for longer. He stops his feet and lunges sometimes and allows his chest to drift over his feet. Simmons needs to clean up these flaws before entering the NFL.

Ohio State opens its Big Ten conference schedule on Saturday, Sept. 28 against Michigan State at 6:30 p.m CST.