1. Home
  3. Sport

Chiefs benching rookie Kingsley Suamataia could signal a problem at left tackle

17 September 2024Last Update :
Chiefs benching rookie Kingsley Suamataia could signal a problem at left tackle

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A corner of the Chiefs’ locker room Sunday featured quite the juxtaposition.

Wanya Morris, the backup left tackle, smiled and cracked jokes with reporters after one of the most joyful moments in his two-year NFL career: He helped Kansas City beat the Cincinnati Bengals by catching a 1-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes.

Morris shared the play’s nickname (Baseline), explained his dance in the end zone (one he learned the previous week from receivers Rashee Rice and rookie Xavier Worthy) and gave details about the last time he scored a touchdown (as a senior in high school when he convinced his coach to give him the ball as a running back).

Next to Morris was rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia, who quietly put his clothes on trying not to be noticed.

Suamataia, in a calm and lower-than-usual tone, did his best to summarize why he had the worst performance of his young career. In just his second game, Suamataia was benched for Morris by coach Andy Reid midway through the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 26-25 comeback victory.

Scoop City Newsletter

Scoop City Newsletter

Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.

Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.

Sign UpBuy Scoop City Newsletter

The rookie’s performance deteriorated as the game progressed, as he was overwhelmed in one-on-one matchups against defensive end Trey Hendrickson, a three-time Pro Bowler. In 54 snaps, Suamataia surrendered two sacks and committed two holding penalties when trying to block Hendrickson, leading the rookie to earn a 43.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

“It was just mental errors on my end,” Suamataia said. “I just shot myself in the foot both times. He’s a great player. I’ve just got to trust my technique, just like the coaches have been saying. It’s worked every time that I have done it, but I’ve just got to stick to my technique and just perfect it.”

The Chiefs selected Suamataia in the second round of the NFL Draft to be an upgrade over Donovan Smith, last year’s starter, and develop into a core part of the line, protecting Mahomes’ blind side for the rest of his prime years.

After reviewing the Chiefs’ performance against the Bengals, Reid said Monday that he hadn’t decided yet whether Suamataia would start in the team’s upcoming game Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons.

“He’s obviously got things he needs to work on and get worked out,” Reid said of Suamataia. “I felt we needed to take a step back to take a step forward and I still think that was the right thing to do there. If he’s out this week, then it’ll be the right thing to do with that.

“We haven’t lost confidence in him. He was going against a good player and he’s got to learn from it.”

Before halftime, Suamataia did solid in matchups against Hendrickson and defensive end Joseph Ossai. When Mahomes threw his 44-yard touchdown to Rice in the second quarter, Suamataia stonewalled defensive end KJ Henry. The rookie was assisted on the play with a chip block on Henry from running back Isiah Pacheco.

But the Chiefs’ final drive of the first half was halted when Hendrickson used his quickness and power to beat Suamataia to collect his first sack of Mahomes. After the play, Suamataia showed his disappointment by bowing his head.

“It’s a tough situation to be a rookie in the NFL and play in a game like this, a Week 2 game that felt like a playoff game,” Geoff Schwartz, a former offensive lineman, said Sunday of Suamataia on the KC Sports Network’s postgame show. “You’re not getting that if you’re (Los Angeles Chargers rookie right tackle) Joe Alt playing in Carolina. (New York Jets rookie left tackle) Olu Fashanu didn’t even play (on Sunday). It was a tough matchup for (Suamataia). … I think he’ll be right back as the starter against the Falcons next week.”

In the fourth quarter, Hendrickson correctly predicted the Chiefs’ snap count, giving him a speed advantage against Suamataia. The rookie responded by oversetting his jump set, which allowed Hendrickson to use his powerful bull rush to gain leverage before sacking Mahomes. On the next play, Suamataia committed his second holding penalty as he grabbed Hendrickson’s jersey while Mahomes began scrambling out of the pocket. The penalty negated a 41-yard reception for tight end Travis Kelce.

“He’s a tough kid and he’s a smart kid,” Kelce said of Suamataia. “Sometimes, it takes a few times to get beat to figure out exactly what you’ve got to do next time. We’ve got a great offensive line, great leaders in that group and a great coach in Coach (Andy) Heck. He’s going to really help him develop.”

Suamataia watched the Chiefs’ final 11 offensive snaps from the sideline while standing near Heck.

“From there, you know, you’ve just got to keep your head up and be ready,” Suamataia said of Reid’s decision to bench him. “You never know what’s going to happen. I might have to go right back in. I was up. I was ready.”

Morris didn’t do much better in his limited snaps. He committed a hands-to-the-face penalty in a one-on-one matchup against Hendrickson. The Chiefs were able to get into field goal range because Bengals rookie safety Daijahn Anthony committed a pass-interference penalty — hitting Rice before the ball arrived — on a fourth-and-16 play with less than a minute remaining. The Chiefs never gained another passing yard. Mahomes instead handed the ball twice to rookie fullback Carson Steele to help allow kicker Harrison Butker to make a game-winning 51-yard field goal.

“When Coach called my number, I was ready,” Morris said. “I try to prepare the same every week. I’m going to be right here for (Suamataia) if he needs me. We’ve got a lot of vets on this line that can help him out.”

Reid stressed that the Chiefs’ passing attack had more issues than just Suamataia’s performance. Mahomes threw two interceptions, Worthy failed to get open on deep routes and the Chiefs converted just once on eight third-down plays.

Schwartz, though, knows one element of the Chiefs offense is unlikely to change: When Suamataia is back on the field, he will often be on an island in clear passing situations.

“People say, ‘Well, just help him,’” said Schwartz, who played as a right guard under Reid in 2013. “It’s tougher than that. The Chiefs’ pass concepts are a lot of three- and four-man floods into a certain part of the field because then you get the layers (for the quarterback).

“When you have someone chip, that’s one less guy in the pass concept. The Chiefs rarely have two-man concepts, so it makes it really tough to run the offense you want to run. Plus, do you want Travis Kelce to chip or go (into) a route? That’s why they don’t do it very much.”

Whether he is back in the startling lineup against the Falcons or not, Suamataia vowed to improve his pass-blocking techniques.

“I’ll be ready to attack next week and prepare like it’s game day like Patrick’s been saying,” Suamataia said. “For a rookie, you kind of take that for granted. But I’m starting, so I’ve got to take it more seriously upon myself to prepare in that way.

“I’m the future of this program and I’m going to be here for the next 10-plus years.”

Pacheco expected to have surgery

The Chiefs are expected to place Pacheco on injured reserve after he sustained a fractured fibula in his right leg in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. Pacheco is also expected to have surgery to repair his fibula. His rehab is expected to be at least two months, according to a team source.

Kansas City’s depth at running back has been a concern since the start of training camp. The Chiefs will likely have to rely on Steele and seven-year veteran Samaje Perine, who joined the team just two weeks ago.

Before his injury, Pacheco produced 111 all-purpose yards on 24 touches. Reid hugged Pacheco in the locker room after the game. Pacheco was also seen crying before he learned the extent of his injury. He left Arrowhead Stadium on crutches with a protective boot covering his right foot.

“You don’t ever want to lose that,” Reid said of Pacheco’s passion. “Here’s a guy that loves to play the game. He had tears and he was emotional, but you never want to lose it because it’s an emotional sport. Nobody likes to play more than he likes to play, and that’s what’s so great about this sport.”

Clyde Edwards-Helaire will miss at least the next two games after Kansas City placed him on the non-football illness list before the season opener. Veteran options include Jerick McKinnon, the Chiefs’ third-down back for the last two seasons, and Kareem Hunt, who played the last five seasons in Cleveland.

Reid, though, alluded to the possibility of Steele starting against the Falcons. Against the Bengals, Steele gained 24 rushing yards on seven attempts but also fumbled for one of the Chiefs’ three giveaways.

“He’s going to have to step it up there in that role,” Reid said of Steele. “I think he likes to be challenged and this will be a good challenge for him. He’s obviously got to keep the ball high and tight. He’s got to make sure he learns from that.”

(Photo: Sam Greene / The Enquirer / USA Today)

Recent