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KC Chiefs have experienced internal options for offensive line help

By Matt Conner

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 01: Daniel Kilgore #67 of the Miami Dolphins in action against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 01: Daniel Kilgore #67 of the Miami Dolphins in action against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 10: Travis Kelce #87 runs behind the blocking of Martinas Rankin #74 of the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half of a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 10: Travis Kelce #87 runs behind the blocking of Martinas Rankin #74 of the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half of a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Martinas Rankin

It’s easy to forget about Martinas Rankin because he’s been injured for so much of his NFL career. In 2018, he missed much of the Houston Texans preseason activities due to a foot injury, although he was able to appear in all 16 games that season. In 2019, he played in only six games for the Chiefs before a knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.

Coming into this season, Rankin’s knee still wasn’t ready to return to the field, so the Chiefs placed him on the Physically Unable to Perform list—which is where he remains today. That PUP list forced Rankin to automatically miss the first six games of the season, but Andy Reid made it clear in recent comments that he’s still not quite ready.

"“Yeah, so Rank (Martinas Rankin) has done a good job of working to get back,” Reid said. “He’s not quite there yet but he’s working at it.”"

It’s possible that Rankin could add to the competition at guard in the second half of the season and be in game shape when it matters most. If so, don’t sleep on the difference he could make. Remember he was a third round pick as recently as 2018 as a developmental lineman for good reason.

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