Chiefs signing offensive tackle DJ Humphries

Chiefs signing offensive tackle DJ Humphries
Arrowhead Pride Arrowhead Pride

On Friday evening, Kansas City found some depth at the left tackle position.

The Kansas City Chiefs are signing veteran offensive tackle DJ Humphries, a source confirmed to Arrowhead Pride.

FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz was the first to break the news early Friday evening. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Humphries will earn $2 million with a maximum value of $4.5 million.

Humphries, 30, was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Over his nine-year NFL career, the 6-foot-5, 307-pound tackle has made 98 starts.

After sitting his entire rookie year (2015), Humphries began the next season as a right tackle before transitioning to left tackle midseason. From 2017 to 2023, he played exclusively at left tackle and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2021.

Humphries tore his ACL in Week 17 of the 2023 season, and the Cardinals released him in March. Humphries rehabbed through the summer — and on Friday, NFL Network reported that he was medically cleared for football activities. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach wasted no time in making the call.

After beginning the season with rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia as the starter, the Chiefs switched to second-year lineman Wanya Morris in Week 3. Morris has started every game since, relegating Suamataia to the backup position.

In Week 10 against the Denver Broncos, Morris had to check out of the game due to injury, and Suamataia struggled in relief. Suamataia was inactive against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, with the thought that a backup plan would see left guard Joe Thuney slide over.

With Humphries’ signing, the Chiefs now have two experienced options at left tackle for the second half of the season. The team plans to get Humphries into football shape in the coming weeks, positioning him as a potential replacement should Morris struggle.

The signing of Humphries ensures that the Chiefs have two experienced left tackles available for the second half of the season. Kansas City plans to use the next few weeks to get Humphries into football shape, positioning the 10-year veteran as a potential replacement if Morris underperforms.