The Kansas City Chiefs pass rush could use someone to step forward

Dee Ford

Head coach Andy Reid said Ford is undergoing more tests, which is never a good sign because it simply means the symptoms are too great to overcome and we don’t know really what’s wrong. It’s one thing if Ford just needed some time away, but he clearly re-injured or re-tweaked or re-something’d his back and that’s hard for anyone to do anything with severe back pain—let alone generate significant speed around the edge while bending and shoving and grappling with a 300 lb. opponent.

But Ford was supposed to be the next man up, the elite pass rusher taken in the first round who would blossom to eventually supplant Tamba Hali and sit alongside Justin Houston for years to come. Ford, instead, has become a situational pass rusher who has been slow to grow into his NFL skin. He’s shown enough promise and productivity to warrant a long look at his fifth year option while also failing to stay on the field or remain consistent enough to make it an easy decision.

He led the team in sacks last season with 10 and that should be enough to make a final call, but the Chiefs already have cap concerns and ailing pass rushers. Do they want to extend another one?