Patrick Mahomes is just one of several injury concerns for Kansas City Chiefs

Mitchell Schwartz

It might seem odd to list Schwartz here given that the Chiefs’ right tackle hasn’t played since Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills. Yet as the Chiefs get ready to face Buffalo once again, Andy Reid gave a bit of hope earlier this week that we might get to see the former All-Pro lineman again in 2020.

On Wednesday, Reid was asked about Schwartz by Chiefs reporters and he stated that while the tackle would be out for the Divisional Round, he added, “I don’t think anybody’s lost hope in that, just sometimes time is an important thing here.”

That’s good news for the Chiefs who have been playing a game of Twister with the offensive line, moving spare parts here and there in an attempt to stay upright. From the opt outs of Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Lucas Niang to injuries for Schwartz and Kelechi Osemele, it’s been a tough year up front for the Chiefs.

Schwartz has earned first-team or second-team All-Pro honors in each of the last four seasons for the Chiefs. Then earlier this year, back pain forced him to leave the Chiefs’ win over the Bills early. Schwartz has been out ever since. If he was able to somehow return late in this postseason, he would provide a serious talent boost on the right side, although Mike Remmers deserves credit for holding things down for so long.

It’s likely a long shot that we see Schwartz play again this season for the Chiefs, but Reid left that window open. We’re not anxious to close it any time soon.