The Kansas City Chiefs were breathing a bit easier on Tuesday heading into the NFL’s Week 18 with the sight of left tackle Orlando Brown back at practice for the team. Brown had sat out the previous game against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a calf strain suffered shortly before the game during warm-ups.
The Chiefs had quite a scare at the tackle position overall on Sunday as they watched both Brown and Lucas Niang leave the field with injuries within minutes of each other. Brown was healthy throughout the week but strained his calf and left the field without his teammates during warm-ups. The Chiefs announced he was questionable to return, but the team held him out for the duration of their loss to the Bengals.
As for his replacement, the Chiefs moved Lucas Niang to left tackle to start the game away from his typical post at right tackle (where they went with Andrew Wylie). Niang only lasted six snaps, however, before going down with a painful injury that was ultimately diagnosed as a torn patellar tendon. Niang was instantly declared out, and his injury will cost him the rest of his rookie season.
Orlando Brown is back at practice for the Chiefs after straining his calf.
Without their starting tackles, the Chiefs decided to move left guard Joe Thuney outside and inserted Nick Allegretti in his place. The pair deserve plenty of applause for their efforts because both players played a great game up front. There’s little doubt Thuney could hold things down if needed outside, but the return of Brown to practice gives the Chiefs more security, depth, and talent. It also allows other players to settle into their best roles.
Brown came to the Chiefs in a blockbuster deal with the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason as the team rebuilt the entire offensive line, and he was named to his third Pro Bowl in the process earlier in December. Given that he’s back in practice the expectation will likely be for him to return in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos and be ready for the team’s postseason run.