KC Chiefs: Lucas Niang will gain more important experience in Week 9

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming into Week 9’s scheduled matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Arrowhead Stadium on unsteady ground when it comes to their overall record at 4-4. The good news, however, is that they’re also relatively healthy at the midseason point, which could give them a nice edge moving forward.

The only injury of note on the latest team injury report belongs to Mike Remmers, who is the only member of the active roster who has been unable to practice at all this week. The team’s veteran offensive lineman has been out with a knee injury for a couple of weeks.

Rookie right tackle Lucas Niang began the season as the starter outside, giving the team three rookies in its starting five along the offensive line. However, an injury heading into Week 6 led the Chiefs to make the change to Mike Remmers outside. The Chiefs line had made some mistakes in tough losses and Remmers gave the team an experienced player outside along with a healthy option.

The Chiefs are going to reap the experience earned by Lucas Niang this season.

In Week 7, Andy Reid decided to go with Remmers again and it looked as if Niang might have to wait a while before manning the bookend role once again. Then came Remmers’ knee injury.

At this point, Niang will get his second consecutive start against the Packers after getting a shot against the Giants. Niang looked solid last week in a close win in Week 8, and it’s important to note that Niang getting these sorts of valuable reps is about more than this season. The 2020 third-round pick has already proven to be a quick learner at right tackle through a half-season, but giving him further reps instead of making a short-term play with Remmers is going to pay serious dividends down the road for the Chiefs.

Joe Thuney is already locked up for the next four seasons beyond this one at left guard. Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith look like future Pro Bowlers at center and right guard, respectively, and both are under contract as rookies for the next three years after this one. The same can be said of Niang, and if he can continually show improvement week to week, the Chiefs are going to have four young starters they can count on going forward into the next few years together. (Note: it’s also possible the Chiefs sign Orlando Brown Jr. to an extension at left tackle and ride the next half-decade out with this same line.)

Niang opted out last season and came into the year needing the most work to get game-ready after missing time. He’s looked better than expected already, and here’s hoping he can apply his experience from one game to the next in order to look solid in protection against the strong pass rush of the Packers in Week 9 (and beyond).