KC Chiefs down to third right tackle with Lucas Niang injury

The Kansas City Chiefs came into the game already hurting at right tackle against the Green Bay Packers with the news that veteran Mike Remmers was not going to play for another week. Then in the first quarter came another hit to the position when Lucas Niang left the field on his own power on a long game-opening drive that eventually put the Chiefs up by seven.

Niang seemed to injure his rib on the play near the goal line. He’s now questionable to return.

The Chiefs went with Niang to start the season at right tackle as their third rookie starter up front, an incredible achievement for all three first-year players who grabbed the center, right guard and right tackle roles. Both Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith have continued to make every start at center and RG, respectively, but a minor injury took out Niang for a week after Week 5, and Remmers stepped in as the starter for two weeks.

From there, Remmers injured his knee and Niang was inserted back into the starting role in Week 8 and has been there ever since. Without Niang and Remmers, the Chiefs will now turn to Andrew Wylie, who immediately came up to spell Niang as he was attended to on the Chiefs sideline by the team’s medical/training staff. If something happens to Wylie, it’s possible the team asks Nick Allegretti or Austin Blythe to see what they can do outside with Remmers and Prince Tega Wanogho both inactive.

Niang is a first-year player who was the team’s third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of TCU. He decided to opt out last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and placed his rookie campaign on hold while he remained in communication with the team while working out privately.