Laurent Duvernay-Tardif will miss 4-6 weeks for KC Chiefs with broken hand

The K.C. Chiefs have already taken a couple hits along the offensive line before the regular season has even begun, and the latest comes knowing they will be without former starting guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif for the next month or more with a broken bone in his hand.

NFL reporter Ian Rapoport broke the news on Tuesday night on Duvernay-Tardif’s injury, which explains why he wasn’t able to practice with the team in recent days at training camp in St. Joseph. Rapoport does note that it’s not out of the realm of possibility that LDT is able to play by Week 1.

Duvernay-Tardif is working his way back into game shape after opting out all of last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic where he instead decided to work on the front lines and utilize his medical training back in his home of Montreal.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is out 4-6 weeks with broken hand.

How this affects the Chiefs plans is uncertain, but it looks as if rookie sixth-round pick Trey Smith was already going to earn a real shot at taking over the role for the season from the outset. Given Duvernay-Tardif’s absence, Smith now seems entrenched in the role and has been earning rave reviews from anyone watching Chiefs camp so far.

Duvernay-Tardif was the long-term starter at the right guard slot before opting out, but the Chiefs now have Smith and last year’s starter, Andrew Wylie, on the roster at present. In addition, the team has other versatile performers who could slide in and help if injuries took their toll any further, including Austin Blythe, Yasir Durant, Mike Remmers, Nick and Allegretti.

That said, the Chiefs have taken hits at the position with Remmers out for the last week-and-a-half with back spasms. In addition Kyle Long, who could have been a contender to actually start up front in this very role, is still nursing a leg injury that should keep him out of all of training camp. Other linemen have missed a bit of time here and there, but LDT is now the third Chiefs lineman who has missed a decent amount of time with injury.