Jeff

Allen

Now that Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson are both back to full health, Stewart has no offensive role. Goodson and Marcel Reece will split backup duties behind McFadden.

Allen has been on and off the Chiefs roster all offseason, but he’ll be a key backup with experience. Allen just needs to stay healthy.

Allen was re-signed just two weeks ago, and it wasn’t enough time to crack the 53-man roster. Allen has had a couple nice seasons, but injuries have plagued him recently. He’ll look to serve as a backup lineman elsewhere.

It’s Allen third stop with the Chiefs. Allen shouldn’t need much time to get acclimated despite missing two-plus weeks of training camp. He’ll serve as interior depth.

Allen didn’t sign with the Chiefs until October last year. He’s spent 5-of-7 seasons in Kansas City and knows their scheme. 29-year-old Allen would be solid depth.

A tackle in college, Allen projects inside to guard. At 6'3/307 pounds, Allen’s best asset is technique, with sound hand position and extended arms. He could consistently control college defensive linemen but will need to add some bulk in order to strengthen his natural anchor. Allen is an athletic big man and a nice complement inside with Brandon Albert and Eric Winston at tackle.

It’s true that the Chiefs have been patient with their recent interior line draft picks. Projected starting C Rodney Hudson sat for his rookie year, and RG Jon Asamoah did as well before becoming a starter last season. Allen played left tackle at Illinois and is kicking inside. He could still make LG Ryan Lilja expendable by showing fast-learning skills in training camp.

A college tackle, Allen is learning a new position. While the Kansas City Star projects him as the first lineman off the bench, it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that Allen could overtake starting LG Ryan Lilja. For now, fellow rookie Donald Stephenson is the Chiefs’ projected swing tackle.

A left tackle at Illinois, Allen kicked inside to left guard during minicamp practices. Look for him to follow the Jon Asamoah-Rodney Hudson blueprint, sitting for a year before taking over for Ryan Lilja in 2013.

Allen was believed to have a high-ankle sprain after sporting a walking boot in late May. It turns out the injury wasn’t quite as serious after all. Expected to play an interior swing role, Allen should be 100 percent for training camp.