KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs added veteran depth at the left tackle position Friday evening, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with left tackle D.J. Humphries.
NFL Network reports the deal will pay Humphries $2 million for the remainder of the season with incentives topping out at an additional $2.5 million. The deal is pending a physical for Humphries once he reports to Kansas City. The Chiefs have an open spot on the 53-player roster so no corresponding move is necessary for his addition.
The 30-year-old Humphries was a first-round selection (No. 24 overall) by the Arizona in the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent nine seasons with the Cardinals, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2021. In August 2022, the team signed Humphries to a three-year, $66.6 million extension. However, he tore the ACL in his left knee on Dec. 31 in Week 17 in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the club released him March 13 in a salary cap move at the beginning of the new league year.
Humphries received medical clearance to resume football activities Friday morning. The Chiefs have been monitoring the progress of Humphries during the past month, a source tells Chiefs Digest, with both second-year-pro Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia struggling at times in the left tackle role. Pro Football Focus gives Morris an overall grade of 57.3 on the season (60.4 in pass protection) and Suamataia a 36.8 overall grade (32.8 in pass protection). Last season Humphries received a 62.5 overall grade with a 68.4 rating in pass protection.
Suamataia started the season as the club’s left tackle after moving ahead of Morris on the depth chart during training camp. Morris also suffered a bone bruise in August that has continued to affect him. Suamataia started the first two games of the season at left tackle before Morris supplanted him at the position. Morris started the last eight games at the position with Suamataia playing 54 snaps against Denver in Week 10 with Morris out of the game after aggravating his bone bruise.
Suamataia was a healthy scratch last week against Buffalo with undrafted rookie free agent Ethan Driskell filling in as the backup tackle and serving on special teams. The club plans for Suamataia to be active Sunday when the Chiefs play at Carolina, a source tells Chiefs Digest.
Beyond that, however, the outlook for the remainder of the season appears unclear. Morris expects to start Sunday against the Panthers, and will likely start next Friday against the Las Vegas Raiders on a short week. The Chiefs expect Humphries will push Morris for the starting role but he will need time to work into physical shape and ramp up to game speed. If Morris plays well, he could hold the position but Humphries brings much-needed veteran depth and leadership the club sought at the left tackle spot.
