The Kansas City Chiefs are making a major lineup change for their Sunday night showdown against the Atlanta Falcons.
Sources say Wanya Morris, the second-year offensive lineman, will start tonight’s game as the left tackle and blindside protector for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia heads to the bench.
Suamataia, who won the starting job to begin the 2024 season, held up in the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game but struggled in Week 2. The 21-year-old was eventually pulled from last week's win over the Bengals, thanks in part to the work of pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who notched two sacks.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid didn’t announce a starter on Friday but told reporters that both tackles will be ready and are expected to play.
Earlier in the week, when describing why he pulled Suamataia from the game, Reid said he felt the rookie “needed to take a step back to take a step forward.”
“We haven’t lost confidence in him,” Reid said. “He was going against a good player, and he’s got to learn from it.”
Morris, named for the legendary Boyz II Men singer of the same name, started four games last season and actually caught a 1-yard touchdown against the Bengals last week.
He has flashed plenty of potential, but Sunday against the Falcons and pass rusher Matt Judon is no doubt his biggest test. The hope is that either Morris shines or that Suamataia uses the time out in a positive way or both.
As for the Chiefs offense in general, the unit will go forward without running back Isiah Pacheco, who's on injured reserve and out at least six weeks following surgery for a fractured fibula.
Kareem Hunt -- signed this week and on the practice squad -- won’t play. Rookie running back Carson Steele is expected to start and have the first opportunity to get starter carries with Pacheco out. The undrafted free agent from UCLA has nine carries for 27 yards in two games. Samaje Perine, signed before the season, could also play significant snaps if he gets hot.