When it comes to the skill positions, the Kansas City Chiefs have not been as healthy as they are right now in weeks. But will that be enough to power a late-season run to the playoffs when other, arguably more important areas of the team are not at 100 percent?
Rashee Rice was out for the first few games due to suspension, Xavier Worthy’s injuries have caused him to miss a few games and pop on and off the injury report throughout the season, and Isiah Pacheco missed the last four weeks with an MCL sprain.
But going into K.C.’s Thanksgiving Day meeting with the Dallas Cowboys, none of them even have an injury designation. Their injury report is clean as a whistle—except for one major issue: their offensive line will be without a major piece for Week 13 and perhaps several weeks thereafter.
“Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Isiah Pacheco and WRs Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are all officially off the injury report and good to go tomorrow vs. Dallas. Guard Trey Smith (ankle) is out.”
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Isiah Pacheco and WRs Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are all officially off the injury report and good to go tomorrow vs. Dallas.
Guard Trey Smith (ankle) is out.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 26, 2025
Trey Smith may not be as recognizable a name as Rice or Worthy or Pacheco or Mahomes, but he’s about as important as any of them (except Mahomes) are to the Chiefs’ chances of turning this season around and making a run to the playoffs. And with both low- and high-ankle sprains, he could be on the shelf for more than just one game.
To make the playoffs, the Chiefs will likely have to win four of their final six games. That’s no easy feat. But that means every game means that much more, and that includes this matchup with the Cowboys on Thanksgiving (on a short week).
Smith has been K.C.’s best and most consistent offensive line performer apart from center Creed Humphrey this season. He’s the second-highest rated among the team’s starters according to PFF’s offensive grades (70.2) and is a top-15 guard in the NFL when it comes to pass protection, having given up only one sack this season.
His absence is going to be felt as backup Mike Caliendo did not fare well during Smith’s only other absence this season in Week 8. He gave up five pressures, three hurries, and a sack during that game and finished with an ugly 34.3 pass-blocking grade for the day.
Now, he has to deal with Dallas’ new-and-improved defensive interior in just his second major swath of playing time this year. Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark have been a menace in the middle since they linked up. In their two games together, they’ve combined for 16 QB pressures, seven QB hits, three TFLs, and 2.0 sacks while winning both contests.
And let’s not forget, the 5-5-1 Cowboys are just as desperate to make a late-season run to the postseason as the 6-5 Chiefs.
