Will KC Chiefs finally see Lucas Niang or Kyle Long vs the Raiders?

According to the team’s latest injury report, the K.C. Chiefs got Lucas Niang back at practice on Wednesday. It was in limited fashion, which means his rib injury is still very much affecting his ability to perform on the field, but it’s also a positive sign that he could be trending toward a return sooner than later.

The question at this point is whether or not this will be the week we see Niang return at right tackle for the Chiefs. Niang has missed the last every game since leaving Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers with the rib injury.

In Niang’s place, Mike Remmers would normally be the guy, but he’s on injured reserve and there’s been no whispers of him coming off IR after only the mandatory three games away. Still he is eligible, technically, to come off of injured reserve and the week is still young in terms of the weekly NFL calendar (when Thursday and Friday are far more serious practices and injury reports).

Will the Chiefs go with Andrew Wylie again at right tackle or will someone finally return from injury?

The x-factor here could be Kyle Long who has been practicing with the team for weeks now and could be ready to make his debut for the Chiefs. Earlier this week, head coach Andy Reid stated that Long was “getting there.” That sort of coach-speak is intentionally vague, but Reid did add, “We’ll see how he does this week…Just to be back out there [at practice] is a big thing.”

Andrew Wylie is the man who has held down the job in recent weeks and he’s been steadier with each passing week. It’s possible he goes up against Maxx Crosby and company again when the Chiefs host the Raiders, but most fans are likely ready to see this chapter closed out at right tackle.

Niang has started seven games for the Chiefs at right tackle as a rookie after opting out of what was supposed to be his initial season in the NFL due to COVID.