NFL Media reports that Long suffered a leg injury that could keep him out through training camp. Initial thoughts were that it would keep him out for the season, but the hope is that Long will be able to return to action before the start of the regular season.
Long did not play in 2020 after missing 34 games over his final four years with the Bears due to injury, but signed with the Chiefs as part of their offensive line overhaul this offseason.
It looked like Long would be competing for the right guard spot during camp. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who is also returning from sitting out the 2020 season, Andrew Wylie and sixth-round pick Trey Smith may now make up the group vying for that spot.
Originally Posted by PHOG:
Says you, we'll see. 2-time All Big-12, 2-Time all SEC, and Niang. Plus..........Mahomes.
That means absolutely nothing when it comes to the NFL.
Nothing.
Thousands upon thousands of acclaimed guys from every conference, including the SEC, have failed to live up to expectations in the NFL.
The Chiefs face some pretty damn good defenses to start the season so unless there are catastrophic injuries, I have a hard time believing that Andy Reid is going to start three rookies Week 1.
And Mahomes was destroyed in the Super Bowl and struggled with a toe injury well before that game. He needs experienced offensive lineman when facing the Ravens, Chargers and the Redskins defense, not three rookies on the entire right side of the line. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
That means absolutely nothing when it comes to the NFL.
Nothing.
Thousands upon thousands of acclaimed guys from every conference, including the SEC, have failed to live up to expectations in the NFL.
The Chiefs face some pretty damn good defenses to start the season so unless there are catastrophic injuries, I have a hard time believing that Andy Reid is going to start three rookies Week 1.
And Mahomes was destroyed in the Super Bowl and struggled with a toe injury well before that game. He needs experienced offensive lineman when facing the Ravens, Chargers and the Redskins defense, not three rookies on the entire right side of the line.
You're probably right. But I think these are going to excel. Time will tell. [Reply]
People forget how good LDT could be in the seasons he played next to Morse and Fulton. His biggest issue has been availability and nagging injuries.
If he's healthy, he's probably our most reliable RG at least for the near future. And yeah, that's even without having played for a full season. It won't take him long to get back what he had via NFL offseason conditioning.
As it is, he's got a no trade clause and a chunk of dead cap coming back to bite us if we cut him. If at all possible, the team probably wants him to play. Hell, it's possible he was the frontrunner at RG before Long got hurt, too. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
That means absolutely nothing when it comes to the NFL.
Nothing.
Thousands upon thousands of acclaimed guys from every conference, including the SEC, have failed to live up to expectations in the NFL.
The Chiefs face some pretty damn good defenses to start the season so unless there are catastrophic injuries, I have a hard time believing that Andy Reid is going to start three rookies Week 1.
And Mahomes was destroyed in the Super Bowl and struggled with a toe injury well before that game. He needs experienced offensive lineman when facing the Ravens, Chargers and the Redskins defense, not three rookies on the entire right side of the line.
I think that if Humphrey starts (and he probably should) and Niang wins the RT job (and he totally should) then you'd want a vet in between them and LDT would get the nod due to familiarity with the team, Mahomes, and the system.
I have zero doubt that Smith will win that spot perhaps even later in the season, certainly in 2022, but I think you want a vet in there that's seen anything a defense might throw at you. [Reply]