Chiefs OT Wanya Morris practices at guard, leaves early with injury
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs left tackle position battle took a slight turn on Friday.
2023 third-round pick Wanya Morris lined up at left guard next to his rookie teammate Kingsley Suamataia who practiced at left tackle for the day.
All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney has returned to practice but has not taken reps against the defense.
Morris came into the battle with four starts as a rookie. The second-round pick has been practicing with the first-team offense since training camp began after the duo rotated throughout offseason workouts.
Morris had some quality reps on Friday in run blocking and pass protection. At 6'6, 320 pounds, a move to the interior could be good for Morris who left Friday's practice early with a shoulder injury.
But head coach Andy Reid is not declaring the position battle over just yet.
"Not necessarily, but it gives us a chance to let Wanya work a little guard," Reid said. Offensive line coach Andy Heck consistently moves offensive linemen to different spots during training camp. Offensive tackle Lucas Niang has lined up at right tackle and offensive guard this camp.
"Andy moves those guys around. You saw Niang in there last week, Wanya got a shot at it today.
"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 there."
Suamataia will not be changing positions, though, since he is a rookie but Reid is confident that "eventually he'll be able to do all of it".
"He's worked in with those starters and he's doing a nice job there," Reid said about the rookie from BYU. "He's working, number one, hard on the things that we're trying to teach him. There's a lot of new things that he's learning and he's playing aggressive and getting better every day. He's not taking steps back which is important. He's getting to go against good players, which also is important."
Last season's left tackle, Donovan Smith, is still a free agent if the Chiefs decide to go with a proven starter. But with both progressing fairly well, the Chiefs seemed honed in on choosing between the two young tackles.
Morris joins the Chiefs' cast of injured players who are not practicing.
- WR Justin Watson (foot)
- S Justin Reid (quad)
- CB Nazeeh Johnson (knee)
- DE BJ Thompson
- DE Charles Omenihu (knee)
- DT Derrick Nnadi (elbow)
- WR Kadarius Toney (ankle)
- S Deon Bush (ankle)
- CB Kelvin Joseph (slight hamstring per Reid)
- LB Nick Bolton (elbow)
CB Jaylen Watson practiced for the first time since offseason workouts in a yellow non-contact jersey. He also took reps during 7 on 7 periods.