KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For the second week in a row, Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Donovan Smith was forced from the game only to return shortly thereafter.
Unlike last week, when Kansas City took the field for the second half, rookie third-round pick Wanya Morris had taken Smith's place again.
Smith, a veteran left tackle who started his career in Tampa Bay, was downgraded to questionable with a neck injury and never re-entered the game.
“Donovan was battling out there, trying to do his best to be out there for his teammates, but I think the coaches just kind of say, ‘Hey, let’s let it heal up and let’s let someone go in there and try to take over and play while you get healthy,’” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said.
Smith hasn’t missed any practices, but he has appeared on the Chiefs’ injury report in recent weeks with the neck injury.
With rookie fourth-round pick Wanya Morris in his place, the Chiefs, who managed only two first-half field goals, managed two second-half touchdowns in a 27-19 loss to the Packers.
“He stepped up,” Mahomes said. “That’s a good D-line and he did a great job. ... I’m proud of him. That’s a big spot in a big game and a great stadium. He stepped up. Run game, pass game — he did a great job.”
During last Sunday’s win at Las Vegas, Smith left the game in the opening minutes of the second half and was replaced by Morris.
The Chiefs scored the go-ahead touchdown with Morris protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blindside, but Smith returned for the next drive.
It was a similar story in Green Bay on Sunday Night Football.
Morris helped pave the way for a 26-yard run by Isiah Pacheco, which moved Kansas City into field-goal range.
Lukas Van Ness, a first-round pick at defensive end last spring, beat Smith on the next snap for a sack, which led the Chiefs to settle for a field goal.
After another Packers touchdown, which put Kansas City in a 14-3 hole early in the second quarter, Smith returned for the team’s second drive of the game.
He also gave up a red-zone sack as the Chiefs again settled for a field goal on the drive after his return.
Morris played the entire second half.
—
