The Kansas City Chiefs bolstered their offensive line by signing veteran offensive tackle D. J. Humphries
to the active roster, per Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports.
Ian Rapoport followed up by reporting that the contract includes $2 million in guarantees, with a maximum value of $4.5 million.
After spending the first nine years of his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals, Humphries was released in March and remained a free agent until today. The primary reason he remained a free agent was because of a torn ACL suffered in Week 17 of last season.
Earlier in the day, Rapoport reported that Humphries was medically cleared to return to play, which explains why the Chiefs made their move when they did.
Despite being a first round pick in 2015, Humphries was healthy scratched every game in his rookie season. He then spent the 2016 as the Cardinals' right tackle before permanently switching over the blindside in 2017.
Left tackle has been an embattled position for the Chiefs this year as rookie Kingsley Suamataia has struggled and second-year player Wanya Morris has proven to be inconsistent.
Whether he becomes the eventual starter or is just a depth player is still unknown, but given the amount of money the Chiefs have signed him for, it's hard to imagine that he's not starting at some point this season.
Throughout his career, D.J. Humphries has proven to be a quality left tackle. Although he's never been elite, he was a pro bowler in 2021.
It's unclear if he'll make his Kansas City debut this weekend in his hometown of Charlotte when the Chiefs travel to take on the 3-7 Carolina Panthers.
Patrick Mahomes' blindside was one of the biggest concerns for Chiefs fans and the team has now addressed the position. Whether or not Humphries is the same player from before the ACL injury remains to be seen, but the Chiefs clearly believe he'll be a key contributor in the quest for the three-peat.