KC Chiefs could get Blake Bell, Lucas Niang back after bye

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Blake Bell Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Blake Bell Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs might be getting Lucas Niang and Blake Bell back after the bye in Week 8, says Andy Reid.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke to the media on Wednesday to give an update on all of the latest injuries as the team prepares and practices to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7. Given that the team is also heading into their bye week following this week’s road trip, Reid had a lot more updates than normal. The overall sense is that there’s good news to believe the Chiefs might be back to full strength very soon.

The Chiefs have gone without offensive lineman Lucas Niang and tight end Blake Bell for the full 2022 season so far. While it’s great to see the success they’ve had without them at 4-2 overall and in first place in the AFC West, the team undoubtedly could use help in the trenches, especially on offense as both tackles have struggled against opposing edge defenders.

The Chiefs have been without Bell since the preseason when he suffered a hip injury that Reid later termed “unusual.” Bell is the team’s best blocking tight end and while the Chiefs have plenty of talent overall at the position, Bell’s presence could go a long way toward improving red-zone options and short-yardage situations.

As for Niang, he could be an even bigger boost knowing that he would likely supplant Andrew Wylie as the team’s right tackle. Niang has always been slotted for that role as the starter outside opposite Orlando Brown Jr., but injuries have gotten in the way for a player who also originally decided to opt out of his first season in the NFL. He appeared in only 12 games last season after going down with a patellar injury.

In other news, the Chiefs should also be getting other players back shortly—whether this week or after the bye—including safety Bryan Cook, cornerbacks Rashad Fenton and Trent McDuffie, linebacker Willie Gay and more.

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