The Kansas City Chiefs were already down three of their top four offensive tackles coming into Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Now they're working with numbers five and six on the depth chart in Week 15.
The Chiefs' training staff has been burdened by many injured players so far in Week 15, with many starters hurting on both sides of the ball. While some of those were able to make their way back into the field after missing a series or more, offensive tackle Jaylon Moore has proven unable to get back after suffering a knee injury.
Moore came into the season as the team's swing tackle after signing a two-year deal in free agency. After Jawaan Taylor was ruled out for the second consecutive week, Moore was penciled in on the right side next to another backup, Mike Caliendo in place of Trey Smith at right guard. Chargers safety Derwin James was flagged for a low hit on Moore, which forced him to head to the sidelines for a spell, but he returned to the game. Later in the first half, however, Moore hurt his knee again and has been out ever since.
Chu Godrick took over at right tackle in Moore's place, which meant the Chiefs' offense was starting their fifth and sixth offensive tackles on the depth chart, a sign of just how desperate things have become for the Chiefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves beset by injuries, including some more concerns up front along the offensive line.
Josh Simmons and Jawaan Taylor were the starting tackles at the start of the season, but the former is on injured reserve with a fractured wrist, while the latter still hasn't healed from a triceps injury. From there, Wanya Morris was lost a week ago to a lower leg injury that landed him on IR as well, which brought Esa Pole on the left side. Moore's injury now brings Godrick into the equation and makes things even more dire across the offensive line.
Godrick was just promoted from the practice squad for Week 15 and has never played a single snap in the NFL. He joined the Chiefs via the league's international player pathways program in 2023 and has stuck around as a developmental player on the practice squad since then. Pole is also making his first start after debuting for the Chiefs in Week 14.
At this point, if anything else happens to either Pole or Godrick, the Chiefs would likely ask Kingsley Suamataia to slide outside and substitute Hunter Nourzad in at left guard.
As if that wasn't enough, the injuries have piled up elsewhere as well for the Chiefs. The number of players who have missed multiple snaps include wide receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, defensive lineman Chris Jones, cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Kevin Knowles, and linebacker Nick Bolton.