Could Rishaw Johnson Be On His Way Back To Kansas City?

Former Kansas City Chiefs guard Rishaw Johnson is back on the open market.

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Tampa Bay released Johnson today according to a tweet from Aaron Wilson. This means he would be available to the Chiefs if he clears waivers. Internet proof forthcoming:

Here’s the situation: The Chiefs need interior offensive line help. Johnson was part of a battle with Zach Fulton this summer for the starting gig at right guard and was beat out by Fulton. He was traded later to the Buccaneers because there simply wasn’t a roster spot available to him and the Chiefs needed help in the secondary.

But since he has been traded some things have changed. First, Jeff Allen was injured in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans while playing right tackle for the suspended Donald Stephenson. This creates a season-long hole at left guard.

Second, Mike McGlynn was picked up off the streets to play left guard after Jeff Linkenbach proved he wasn’t good enough to start every day at the position. The future of the position, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is still too raw to throw into the fire as a starter. Thus, McGlynn is still your starting left guard.

Rishaw isn’t the greatest of offensive linemen but he knows the offense and knows what the Chiefs are trying to do schematically. Add in his solid performance in the week 17 matchup against the San Diego Chargers last season and one may wonder if Johnson may not get a call from John Dorsey sometime this week.

Whether or not Johnson is a solution at left guard is unknown as he was almost strictly a right guard while with Kansas City. There’s always the chance the Chiefs may consider moving Fulton to the left side but that probably wouldn’t be a good idea at this stage.

At bare minimum Johnson provides some depth the Chiefs need and maybe he pushes McGlynn for the starting job. It may not be a bad idea for the Chiefs to at least consider kicking the tires on Rishaw should he become available.