KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – The injury-plagued Kansas City Chiefs suffered another blow on Sunday night when left tackle Wanya Morris went down with a left knee injury on the first play against the Houston Texans. The loss left a makeshift offensive line featuring three backups and rookie Esa Pole tasked with protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blind side—an uphill battle against a pass rush led by Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.
Despite the challenges, the patched-together unit fought hard, but the Chiefs’ offense struggled to generate momentum against Houston’s top-ranked defense. Mahomes threw three interceptions, and Kansas City failed on two fourth-down attempts in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 20-10 defeat at Arrowhead Stadium. Coach Andy Reid praised the team’s effort but acknowledged the frustration of coming up short.
The Chiefs’ injury woes extended beyond the offensive line. Cornerback Trent McDuffie left in the first quarter with a knee injury after attempting to break up a pass to Nico Collins, who completed a 46-yard catch. Earlier this week, the team had already placed starting left tackle Josh Simmons on injured reserve after wrist surgery, while right tackle Jawaan Taylor and guard Trey Smith were sidelined with triceps and ankle injuries, respectively. This forced Jaylon Moore to start at right tackle and Mike Caliendo to fill in at guard, with Pole stepping in at left tackle after Morris’ injury.
Pole, who played junior college football in California and later at Washington State, went undrafted in April before joining the Chiefs and briefly spending time with the Jets. Mahomes commended Pole for his performance against one of the NFL’s elite pass rushes, despite the quarterback finishing with just 160 passing yards and three interceptions. Kansas City’s inability to make key plays at crucial moments underscored the impact of their depleted lineup. “We’ve got the talent. We got the heart. But we have to go out there and execute. And until we prove it, we’re going to come out with losses,” Mahomes said, reflecting the frustration of a team battling through injuries.
