Oct 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA; Chiefs tackle Ryan Harris (68) lines up during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs’ offensive line came under fire after allowing six sacks during Sunday night’s loss to Denver Broncos.
Coach Andy Reid hinted Monday of leaving options open considering Donald Stephenson saw playing time late in the game in relief of right tackle Ryan Harris.
A permanent change at the position, however, won’t occur as the Chiefs prepare for the Arizona Cardinals.
“Harris is the guy,” Reid told reporters during Wednesday’s media session.
Stephenson projected as the starting right tackle entering training camp. But he served a four-game suspension to start the season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing substances.
The Chiefs originally moved Jeff Allen from left guard to right tackle during the preseason to compensate for Stephenson’s absence.
Allen suffered a season-ending elbow injury in Week 1, leading the Chiefs to turn to Harris, a seventh-year pro who signed with the Chiefs days before training camp.
While Stephenson returned after Week 4, the third-year pro has watched Harris start the last 11 games since Allen went down.
“It’s not really what Donald’s done,” Reid said. “It’s Harris has done a pretty good job there.”
Stephenson, for the most part since his return, has been utilized on special teams and as an extra tackle on offense, roles Reid said would continue.
“That doesn’t mean Donald won’t be in,” Reid said. “We’ll work him a little bit at tight end; he’s gotten in a little bit at tackle. Right now it’s Harris.”
NOTES: Reid told reporters during opening remarks that wide receiver Junior Hemingway (concussion), defensive end Allen Bailey (concussion) and left guard Mike McGlynn (calf) are “making progress,” but the three players will not practice Wednesday … Tight end Phillip Supernaw, whom the Chiefs waived Monday, re-joined the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, according to numerous reports from Ravens beat writers … The Chiefs signed Supernaw from the Ravens practice squad on Nov. 11.
