Kyle

Long

The 33-year-old veteran un-retired last spring but has still yet to play a snap this season after coming off the PUP list on Nov. 30. We wouldn’t consider it terribly likely Long suits up down the stretch. At this point, he is a depth piece who has “seen it all” at both guard and tackle.

Long still isn’t ready to go after being activated from the reserve/PUP list ahead of Week 13. Long could potentially make his debut in Week 15 against the Chargers.

Long was activated from the reserve/PUP list on Tuesday, which was the final day of his three-week activation window. They either had to activate him or rule him out for the season, so they chose to activate him, but it appears he is not ready to return to action just yet. It’s unclear when Long will be available for Kansas City.

He’ll take Jerick McKinnon’s (IR) vacant spot on the active roster. On the final day of his three-week practice window, the Chiefs had no choice but to activate Long or lose him for the rest of the year. It’s unclear if he will actually be available to play out of the team’s bye.

Long, known for battling injuries throughout his career, suffered his most recent one during OTAs and was promptly placed on Kansas City’s PUP list. The veteran lineman was limited to 30 total appearances by injury between 2016-19.

This means that Long will be sidelined for six games before being eligible to return. Long suffered the injury in OTAs and has a long track record of missing time due to injuries. The veteran lineman was limited to 30 total appearances by injury between 2016-19. Once healthy, Long serve as a depth option for a unit that was ravaged by injuries last year.

Long, who was always battling through some sort of injury before taking 2020 off, was injured in last month’s OTAs sessions. It was reported in June the Chiefs were hopeful he would be ready for Week 1. Considering Long’s injury history, we wouldn’t exactly be counting on it. At this point, any contributions Long is able to provide along the interior should be considered a bonus.

Pelissero continues that the “hope” is Long, 32, will “be ready Week 1.” It’s a significant setback to the start of the veteran’s Chiefs tenure as Long was limited to 30 total appearances between 2016-19 for injuries then, too. Kansas City’s front office should not consider itself patched in the trenches just yet since Long’s situation is clearly touch and go.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the deal is worth up to $5 million. It’s the Chiefs’ second major addition at guard after signing Joe Thuney. Long actually has NFL experience at tackle — where the Chiefs are also replacing both starters — but he hasn’t played there since 2015. The Chiefs could still be getting Laurent Duvernay-Tardif back at guard after he opted out of the 2020 season to help fight the coronavirus pandemic — LDT is a doctor — but his NFL future is uncertain. Headed into his age-33 campaign, Long was limited to 30 total appearances by injury between 2016-19. He’s an upside addition, but the Chiefs will believe his contributions when they see them.

Should Long leave Vegas without a deal, he has a visit lined up with the Chiefs next. 32 and coming out of a brief retirement, Long would be a big boost to either AFC West team, as both are completely overhauling their offensive lines. Long battled injuries before taking 2020 off but has experience as both a guard and right tackle. Long made the Pro Bowl each of his first three seasons in the league before injuries started taking their toll.