Kelechi Osemele looks like the Chiefs new starting left guard

Kelechi Osemele looks like the Chiefs new starter at left guard.

It didn’t take long for Kelechi Osemele to find his role with the Kansas City Chiefs. A few weeks into training camp for the 2020 season, and he’s found a familiar spot at left guard with the starting front line.

Osemele was signed by the Chiefs after starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the first player in the NFL to decide to opt out for the coming season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Osemele was a fixture at left guard for years with the Oakland Raiders, but the signing signaled a potential change of position for the vet—or at least it was an import that would give the team flexibility.

Now as the team is trying to find its rhythm in training camp and come together for a campaign to “run it back,” Osemele is earning reps at his old position.

"Veteran Kelechi Osemele continued to work with the first team at left guard. Osemele – who signed with the Chiefs earlier this summer – is entering his ninth season in the NFL and was a Pro Bowl selection as recently as 2017 with the Oakland Raiders."

Left guard has been a carousel ever since Andy Reid arrived in 2013, with the team deciding on a new starter almost every single year. From Jeff Allen and Mike McGlynn to Ben Grubbs and Zach Fulton, Bryan Witzmann and Andrew Wylie to Stefen Wisniewski and now Kelechi Osemele, the Chiefs are used to turning the page next to Eric Fisher.

Osemele brings a rare veteran presence to the position for the Chiefs, but they’re also hoping he can avoid the injuries that have plagued him in recent years. Osemele was a Pro Bowl performer in both 2016 and 2017 for the Raiders but he was limited to 11 games due to injury in 2018. As an expensive vet, Oakland moved on and the Jets took a chance, but he needed shoulder surgery last season which ruined his year.

Which performer will show up for the Chiefs? Only time will tell but for now they have a proven veteran performer in place with a rare chance to gain a championship ring. He’ll be plenty motivated to prove what he has left and Osemele will be able to show up the Raiders a couple times along the journey in the AFC West.