The Kansas City Chiefs are getting thinner across the offensive line just as the playoff pressure is ratcheting up to new heights in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Adam Schefter reported that reserve tackle Wanya Morris, who was injured on the first play of his first start of the season on “Sunday Night Football,” is going miss the rest of the year.
“Sources: Chiefs LT Wanya Morris suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday night vs. the Texans,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported via X on Monday, December 8.
Morris got the nod because of injuries to right tackle Jawaan Taylor and right guard Trey Smith, which kept both players out of the crucial game against the Houston Texans.
Taylor is dealing with injuries to his triceps and his knee, while Smith is battling an ankle injury. Neither practiced once last week, which doesn’t bode well for their availability against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 14.
Morris has played in all but one game for the Chiefs in 2025, though primarily as a reserve and a special teams contributor. After his sole snap on Sunday night, Morris finishes the year with 66 snaps on offense compared to 51 snaps on special teams.
His loss represents a significant hit to Kansas City’s offensive line depth, which was a problem for Mahomes against a Texans defense that recorded two sacks and eight quarterback hits on the evening. The pressure also contributed to three interceptions by Mahomes in a 20-10 home loss.
Trent McDuffie’s Status Remains Unknown After Suffering Knee Injury Against Texans
GettyCornerback Trent McDuffie of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs also lost two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to a hyperextended knee later in the contest. He left the field and did not return.
Head coach Andy Reid updated McDuffie’s status during the postgame press conference, though he was somewhat vague and gave no clear indication of a return timeline.
“Trent McDuffie hyperextended his knee,” Reid told reporters, “so we’ll have to see how it works out for him.”
Kansas City provided no update on McDuffie’s status Monday.
Chiefs Could Miss Playoffs if They Don’t Win Out Over Last Month of NFL Season
GettyQuarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs (6-7) have officially lost their chance to repeat as AFC West Division champions for the 10th year in a row, as there is no mathematical chance of catching the Denver Broncos (11-2) who are tied with the New England Patriots for the best record in the AFC as well as the entire NFL.
Kansas City’s odds of making the playoffs are hovering between 10-15 percent, depending on the outcome of the Chargers’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football.” The Chargers (8-4) are the next opponent on the Chiefs’ schedule and also a member of the AFC West.
Los Angeles is currently in the AFC playoff picture, while Kansas City’s postseason odds were 12 percent at halftime of the Chargers-Eagles game, with L.A. holding a 10-6 lead heading into the third quarter.
The Chiefs face the Tennessee Titans on the road, the Broncos at home and the Las Vegas Raiders in the desert to finish the season following their Week 15 matchup with the Chargers in Kansas City.
Steelers Get First Real Look at Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Decision
The Pittsburgh Steelers still have three weeks before they play the Cleveland Browns for the final time this season, but they got an announcement that adds a little something extra to their AFC North showdown.
The Steelers versus Browns Week 17 game could help decide the winner of the division, or set up a dramatic ending in Pittsburgh against the Baltimore Ravens. But during the Cleveland game, the Steelers will get an opportunity to see if they made the right quarterback call during the NFL Draft.
The Browns announced that Shedeur Sanders will remain the starting quarterback for the rest of their 2025 season, ending talks of Deshaun Watson returning or Dillon Gabriel taking back over.
The first time Pittsburgh and Cleveland faced off, Gabriel was the passer, completing 29 of 52 passes for 221 yards as the Steelers won 23-9. This time, Sanders will get an opportunity to host the Steelers, and maybe show a team that passed on him that they made a mistake.
Steelers Tested The Waters With Sanders
Let’s go back to the 2025 NFL Draft. Everyone was trying to figure out where Sanders was going to land in the first round, with the Steelers as the most-likely pick. Pittsburgh held the Colorado star for a visit just before the draft and many believed it was a sign that they were going to take a chance on the QB with their first-round selection.
Instead, the Steelers passed on Sanders for Derrick Harmon. Then, they passed on him in the third round for Kaleb Johnson, and again in the fourth round for Jack Sawyer.
Sanders eventually went to the Browns in the fifth round, sparking plenty of conversation and a lot of backlash against teams who passed on him. Considering many thought he was a first-round pick heading into the draft, there’s a lot of belief that Cleveland got a steal in the later picks.
We’ll See
Now, the Steelers get their first look at the quarterback they passed on. Sanders isn’t going up against Pittsburgh’s rookie in Will Howard, who they selected in the sixth round, but against Aaron Rodgers.
If Sanders had ended up in Pittsburgh, Rodgers would’ve been the starter anyway. But the rookie gets a chance to prove to Mike Tomlin and company that he should’ve been their next franchise passer. A test that, if Sanders passes, could cause issues for the Steelers’ playoff hopes.
Sanders is 1-2 as a starter, completing 54 of 103 passes for 769 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Pittsburgh travels to Cleveland in Week 17 to play at Huntington Bank Field.
