Ryan

Lilja

Lilja was absolutely crushed by DL Kyle Love. The injury is almost certainly a concussion, meaning he’ll be subject to the league’s testing policy. Second round pick Rodney Hudson replaced Lilja, and despite his pedigree he’ll be playing out of position if pressed into action. The Chiefs drafted Hudson to play center.

The Chiefs will be without starting RG Jon Asamoah thumb as well. Expect Russ Hochstein to start at center, Eric Winston to move to right guard and Donald Stephenson to come on at right tackle. It’s a concern for starting QB Matt Cassel and the entire offense. They’ll also be without WR Jon Baldwin (head). The rest of the Chiefs’ inactives: QB Ricky Stanzi, DB Tysyn Hartman, RB Cyrus Gray and NT Jerrell Powe.

Lilja has started all eight games this season. He entered the season as the starting left guard, but once Rodney Hudson went on injured reserve after Week 3, Lilja was moved to center. For all of the issues Kansas City has dealt with this season, the offensive line is a strong point. The Chiefs and Steelers play on Monday night.

Per reporter Adam Teicher, the Chiefs may also “now feel they have enough capable bodies along their line.” Lilja is reportedly “receptive” to a comeback, but the issue may simmer until training camp.

The former Colt just wrapped up his ninth year in the NFL, and third with the Chiefs. Aside from missing all of 2008 with a knee injury, Lilja had missed just three games since 2006. That, coupled with the fact that he played at a high level for a moribund team this season makes his decision mildly surprising. However, he’ll turn 32 in October, and is clearly interested in getting out of the league while he’s still ahead. Lilja was headed toward free agency, so the Chiefs may have had a hole to fill on their interior line regardless.

Lilja, 31, announced that he was retiring the day after the season ended, but there have been reports that he has been “receptive to the idea” of coming back. The Chiefs have already approached him about a return, and the fact that he followed through with the surgeries indicates he could lace ‘em back up.

The veteran guard shifted to center last season, but said he was ready to walk away in December. “Physically, you hit a wall and your body kind of tells you to start thinking about it,” Lilja said. “I wanted to be in a place where I was at peace with my decision and could move forward and never regret it. I’m there.” Lilja was planning to undergo toe and knee surgeries. He’d be an option at center or left guard. LG Jeff Allen struggled mightily in 2012.

The Broncos lured Lilja out of retirement only to release him after 31 days. Recovering from microfracture surgery, the 31-year-old center must not have looked ready in camp. It’s unclear if Lilja will continue his “comeback,” or retire for good. Manny Ramirez is the Broncos’ Week 1 center.

Lilja and Peyton Manning spent six years together in Indy. Now the Broncos want him to come in and compete with Manny Ramirez for the starting center job vacated by injuries to Dan Koppen and J.D. Walton. If healthy, Lilja would be the favorite to win out.