The Oh? Line
Coming in to the season the Kansas City Chiefs believed the continuity established in returning all five starting offensive linemen would make that unit a strength of the team. And then the season started.
Not only have the starters across the board regressed in their performance over last season, the entire starting unit has barely made the field together. Eric Fisher, Andrew Wylie and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif have all missed time and that has thrust the Chiefs in to the unfortunate position of starting Cam Erving at left tackle for seven (7!) games this season. The Chiefs acquired Martinas Rankin in trade with the Houston Texans before the season started, and he too has now started half of the team’s games at the two guard positions.
Put it all together, and the Chiefs have amassed the 31st ranked unit in terms of adjusted sack rate, and Erving has one of the bottom ranked left tackles in the league. Unfortunately, the line has been one of the bad surprises.
Two weeks ago the Chiefs thought Fisher was close to returning, and then he re-injured his groin in practice and they had to shut him back down. When he returns is anyone’s guess, but it’s clear that the team, and Mahomes, will be eager to get him back.