While the mood was understandably celebratory at Arrowhead Stadium following the Kansas City Chiefs' statement win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, there was one primary concern coming out of the game. Rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott was helped off the field with an injury and was scheduled for an MRI on Monday.
Norman-Lott went down with the knee injury in the third quarter of the Chiefs' crushing victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. It was the only real concern on a day that left the crowd at Arrowhead smiling ear to ear.
While the Chiefs have turned their collective attention to a new week, head coach Andy Reid says they're still in the dark as to the severity of Norman-Lott's injury. On Monday, he told reporters that he didn't have an update on the situation.
The Chiefs selected Norman-Lott late in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. A fast-rising prospect out of the University of Tennessee, Norman-Lott was hailed as the single most disruptive defensive tackle in college football last season. However, he played rotational snaps, which brought concerns about how much he'd be able to play as a rookie and how great a load he could handle as he developed.
The Chiefs still aren't sure what to make of Norman-Lott's injury heading into Week 8.
Such a setup is what makes an injury for Norman-Lott so concerning. It's not wise for any team to rely heavily on a rookie for meaningful reps immediately, but Kansas City's interior is very thin. Norman-Lott gave the Chiefs at least some upside other than Chris Jones, even if he was still finding his footing in Week 7.
Beyond Norman-Lott, the Chiefs have veteran Jerry Tillery, who was brought in on a one-year deal in free agency, and Derrick Nnadi, who was allowed to leave last spring only to be brought back with a puzzling preseason trade.
As for further help, the Chiefs can look internally to the practice squad for a few promotional options. Marlon Tuipulotu is a familiar face who has been elevated on game days already. Meanwhile, the Chiefs added recent draft busts like Brodric Martin and Zacch Pickens before the season began, hoping a change of scenery could unlock something in the young players.
The Chiefs are also rumored to be interested in help along the defensive interior before the NFL's trade deadline. Given that general manager Brett Veach tends to be active around this time (see last season's deals for wideout DeAndre Hopkins and pass rusher Joshua Uche), fans should expect some external additions.
However, K.C. needed help even before Norman-Lott was sidelined, which makes an already needy position that much more of an issue. This is bad news for the position and for the prospect.