KC Chiefs: Who will likely start the season at right guard?
By Matt Conner
Kyle Long
These odds are likely too high for Long given the injury history here as well as the time spent away from the game in 2020 after he retired following the 2019 season. However, there’s also a lot to like about Long at this point.
When healthy, Long is a Pro Bowl level mauler who would provide the clearest overall upgrade for the Chiefs at the position. The team’s front office and coaches all sound very convinced of his potential, if ready, to fill a need along the line and right guard is the most likely role given his NFL history.
At this point, Long is expected to miss the greater part of training camp. He’s also reportedly been told he could be ready for Week 1. It’s this tension that creates some real drama for the Chiefs. Given his history, Long is going to need the least amount of reps to get ready—at least from a performance perspective. Any team could likely trust Long to step right in and produce at a solid level.
The problem here is not only in injury recovery but the stamina needed to make it through a regular season that’s only gotten longer. Long might be game-ready from the outset in terms of technique, instincts, knowledge, etc., but is he going to stand up for the duration of a full game at this point? And can be bounce right back for another week so quickly?
These concerns were already present before a lower leg injury, which is why he’s still here but listed with odds so low.
Week 1 Odds: 10%