The battle between second-year player Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia for the starting left tackle job is still ongoing out at Chiefs training camp.
Coach Andy Reid hasn’t declared a winner yet, but all signs are pointing to Suamataia getting the nod. Suamataia has practiced with the starters every day since the pads came on last week, and he has been showered with praise for his continued improvement.
Barring Suamataia getting completely overmatched during preseason games, it appears that he’ll emerge as Kansas City’s starting left tackle. So, where does that leave Morris? The obvious answer is that he’ll be the backup, but his role will be much more valuable and versatile than that.
During Friday’s practice, Morris worked with the starting offensive line at left guard. Veteran Joe Thuney is undoubtably the team’s starter at the position; however, the Chiefs’ coaching staff is easing him back in as he returns from a pectoral injury. At the conclusion of practice Reid was asked what it means for Morris to be working at guard.
“It gives us a chance to let Wanya work a little guard,” Reid said. “And you know, Andy (Heck) moves those guys around. You saw (Lucas) Niang in there last week. So, Wanya got a shot at it today, and it’s not a permanent thing. That’s not what it is. It’s just having a shot to get in there and see what we’ve got and what he can do.”
Morris didn’t play much guard during his collegian days at Oklahoma, but many draft experts felt as though that could be his best position at the NFL level. Getting Morris in the mix at guard gives the Chiefs another option there and allows them to be flexible, something that they value in their offensive linemen.
Morris will be the next man up if Suamataia or right tackle Jawaan Taylor go down with an injury. Now, he could also be the guy the coaching staff turns to at guard if Thuney gets injured.
Being the next guy in line at three different positions would be extremely valuable. That is a role that former Chiefs’ offensive lineman Nick Allegretti held for years with the team, and he parlayed that into a nice contract and starting gig with the Washington Commanders this past offseason.
