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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 23: Guard Trey Smith #65 of the Kansas City Chiefs in action during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs‘ playoff ambitions are in serious trouble – again – after the team lost their second successive game – and their fourth out of the last five – this time falling to the Houston Texans at Arrowhead.
The franchise’s odds of making the postseason, according to The Athletic’s playoff simulator, from 37 prior to Week 14, to now 12% afterwards. Put into perspective, the Chiefs’ chances went from greater than 1/3, to now less than 1/8 – with the team now being totally eliminated from AFC West contention for the division title.
The team had two key players missing on offense due to injury: right tackle, Jawaan Taylor and guard, Trey Smith – which certainly did not help Patrick Mahomes ago on Sunday night, where they managed to put up just 10 points against a notoriously stingy Texans defense.
After practice reports were released on Wednesday, the team was still unfortunately sans Taylor – whose spot was filled by undrafted free agent rookie, Esa Pole, last weekend. However, the good news for the Chiefs is that Trey Smith not only returned to practice – he did so in an non-limited, full capacity.
Chiefs’ Guard Returns To Full Practice After Sitting Out Week 14
Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie was limited while RG Trey Smith (ankle) was a full go in Wednesday’s no-helmet practice.
RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps/knee), OT Wanya Morris (knee) and WR Hollywood Brown (personal) did not practice.
“Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie was limited while RG Trey Smith (ankle) was a full go in Wednesday’s no-helmet practice.” ChiefsDigest’s Matt Derrick reported. “RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps/knee), OT Wanya Morris (knee) and WR Hollywood Brown (personal) did not practice.”
The notion of it being a no-helmet practice would likely not have obscured Smith’s actual ability to practice in a full capacity later in the week, considering that the injury that has kept him out in recent weeks has been an ankle one – not a head one.
The only worrying notion for the team would be that All-Pro defensive back, Trent McDuffie, was only able to face limited participation in practice, and that Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was not practicing at all.
Chiefs Could Be Looking At The Return Of A Key Offensive Lineman
Trey Smith has long been one of the better guards in football, and was treated as such this past offseason by Kansas City, when they franchised tagged him prior to giving him a blockbuster 4 year, $94 million extension that made him the highest paid interior offensive lineman in the league by average annual value ($23.5 million).
The Chiefs’ offense has been misfiring in 2025, and unlike in years past, the special teams and defense has not been quite good enough to save them from themselves. And perhaps more importantly, the offensive line has not been up to scratch.
Similarly to 2024, when KC also had troubles on offense, the line ranks around middle of the pack in sacks allowed this season – compared to 2018-2023, when the Chiefs were in the top 10 of fewest sacks allowed in football for six straight seasons.
So having Smith – who has missed three games this year – back in the fold, will be critical to the Chiefs clinging to that final possible postseason lifeline.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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