Chiefs Get Encouraging Outlook On Offensive Line Pair – Report
The Kansas City Chiefs face an ultra-important game on Sunday afternoon when they go up against the Buffalo Bills.
Despite being pre-season favorites to win their respective AFC East and West divisions – and the Bills by a heavy margin – both go into the game in second, a game behind the leaders in the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.
The Chiefs have, broadly speaking, have managed to keep themselves away from the injury bug, but they will be without two starting members of the offense, Josh Simmons (personal reasons) and Isiah Pacheco, who is out with a knee issue.
They could also be facing further limitations on that side of the ball, as both guard, Trey Smith and tackle, Jaylon Moore, are both questionable to play.
Chiefs Questionable Offensive Linemen Expected To Play On Sunday
However, per Matt Derick of Chiefs Digest, the team expects both to start on Sunday.
Chiefs list LT Jaylon Moore (illness) and RG Trey Smith (back) as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, although the expectations are that both will play barring setbacks. https://t.co/ay5hdM4jkD
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) October 31, 2025
“Chiefs list LT Jaylon Moore (illness) and RG Trey Smith (back) as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, although the expectations are that both will play barring setbacks.” Derrick wrote on Friday.
First round rookie left tackle, Josh Simmons, has missed the past three games due a family situation, which has allowed offseason free agent pickup, Jaylon Moore to slide into the role in his absence.
Moore has performed admirably over the past three games since taking over the starting mantle, drawing praise from offensive coordinator, Matt Nagy, who even admitted that he was not fully sure if Simmons would remain the starter after returning to the team – something that is expected to happen over the course of the next few weeks.
Chiefs OC Matt Nagy says he hasn’t considered who will start at left tackle when Josh Simmons returns. He complimented Jaylon Moore for his consistency and his ability to rise to the challenge, but defers to Andy Reid and Brett Veach on choosing the starter.
“Chiefs OC Matt Nagy says he hasn’t considered who will start at left tackle when Josh Simmons returns. He complimented Jaylon Moore for his consistency and his ability to rise to the challenge, but defers to Andy Reid and Brett Veach on choosing the starter.” Derrick reported on Thursday.
The Chiefs Have One Of The Stronger Offensive Lines In Football
The best thing for Veach, Reid and co. is that Simmons was also playing well prior to his departure from the team. He has managed a 63.9 grade from Pro Football Focus over his first five games as a pro, ranking 42nd out of 77 qualifying players at the position.
But Moore has been able to surpass even that, coming in 68.8 from PFF, good for 31st.
Smith, on the other hand, will look to return to the team after missing week 8’s Monday night victory against the Washington Commanders, where the team put up 21 unanswered points in the second half as the Chiefs moved up to 5-3 on the year.
The former sixth round guard, who signed a massive four year, $94 million extension this past offseason, which currently makes him the second highest paid guard in the NFL, behind only the Dallas Cowboys‘ Tyler Smith, is a huge part of the offensive line – and his returned presence will be a massive boon for the offense, if he does manage to play.
The Lightning could decide to promote some of them on the NHL roster
The Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4-2) are getting back in their groove, winning four straight games after their 2-1 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars. While the Lightning look to rise to the top of the Atlantic Division their American Hockey League (AHL, Syracuse Crunch) and ECHL teams (Orlando Solar Bears) are heading in opposite directions. The Crunch are cruising, with a 6-1-0-0 record, which leads the North Division, while the Solar Bears own a dreadful 1-4-0-0 record, allowing twice as many goals (20) as they’ve scored.
Even still, there are standouts littered in the minors for Tampa Bay, and in some instances, the Lightning could decide to promote some of them on the NHL roster.
AHL: Jakob Pelletier, F
The Lightning signed Pelletier to a three-year contract last offseason in the hopes he’d reach his massive upside. At 24 years old, the 2019 first-round pick scored four goals and seven assists with a plus-10 rating in 24 games for the Calgary Flames last season. That’s an average of about 14-24-38 over a full season, and he was usually playing bottom-six minutes.
Unfortunately, the Flames traded the winger to Philadelphia for Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost in late January. Pelletier couldn’t get back his offensive spark in Philadelphia. With the Flyers, he scored just three goals, five assists, and eight points in 25 games, sometimes being healthy scratched. When he was due $840,000 on a qualifying offer on a two-way deal, the Flyers non-tendered him, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Pelletier hasn’t made his debut with the Lightning, but with the Crunch, he’s thriving. Through seven games, Pelletier has notched four goals and five assists, with a plus-1 rating. He currently leads the Crunch in points and goals. In a 5-2 win against the Hershey Bears, Pelletier had two goals and an assist.
If Pelletier keeps this pace up, the Lightning could recall him, and he could be an injection of youth Tampa Bay desperately needs right now.
AHL: Dylan Duke, F
Dylan Duke is another young talent the Lightning hope can evolve into an NHL-caliber forward. He was drafted 121st overall by Tampa Bay after a stellar career with the Michigan Wolverines. In 2023-24, Duke was on a team with NHL draftees Gavin Brindley, Rutger McGroarty, and Seamus Casey. However, Duke led the team in goals (26) and finished third in points (49). Overall, he finished with 54 goals and 46 assists in 123 games.
Duke has just one goal in the NHL level so far, but he is turning a new leaf with the Crunch this season. He’s scored one goal and added six assists for seven points through seven games. He is currently in the top 20 in assists in the AHL level.
It appears Duke could be taking a big jump from his rookie season, when he scored 20 goals, 20 assists, and 40 points through 62 games. Like Pelletier, Duke is another young forward the Lightning are looking to develop into an NHL-caliber player. Unlike Pelletier, Duke is just 22, and he has time to grow and become another late-round NHL contributor for the Lightning.
ECHL: Spencer Kersten, F
It’s hard to find a standout for the Solar Bears this season, but there’s one player who’s been tried and true for them. Spencer Kersten continues to shine for Orlando.
Kersten spent four years with Princeton University and one year at Bowling-Green University before signing with the Solar Bears in 2024. In his rookie season, Kersten shined, recording 25 goals and 30 assists for 55 points through 60 games. That earned him a spot on the 2024-25 ECHL All-Rookie team.
This year, Kersten has increased his scoring output, with three goals and three assists for six points through five games. He is on pace to record 86 points this season.
That could earn Kersten a recall to the AHL. His strong play with Orlando earned him brief stints with the Crunch and the Belleville Senators on loan. He scored one goal in nine games with the Crunch, but he could be in line for more opportunities in the AHL if he keeps up this pace.
