Uh-oh. The Kansas City Chiefs are missing starting LT Eric Fisher from practice, according to Friday’s practice report. Fisher popped up limited on the first injury report this week with a back injury which is always an ominous injury listing with 6’7, 300-plus pound players. Then on day two, he didn’t practice at all.
I’m absolutely concerned because he’s heading in the wrong direction. I don’t have the numbers to back this up but I bet most players who go from practicing one day to not practicing the next in the short practice week in the NFL usually doesn’t play that Sunday (or, in this case, Monday).
Swing tackle was kind of the Chiefs weakness. Or at least untested. They dropped Jah Reid earlier this year and they’re rolling with Cam Erving, who played some tackle and some center with the Browns, as their swing tackle.
Erving has only been here for a few weeks so there are other options like moving Parker Ehinger to left guard and playing last year’s swing tackle, Bryan Witzmann, at one of the tackle spots. That leads to another question: Do you keep Schwartz on the right side or move him to the left?
Lotta moving parts here. I’m not sure exactly what the Chiefs would do. The Chiefs haven’t needed their swing tackle to start a game since the first couple weeks of the 2015 season. Fisher and Schwartz both played 16 games last year so we’re entering somewhat uncharted territory here if he can’t play.
With the Chiefs going against a Redskins front that beat up on a very good Raiders line last week, I’m a little more worried. The final injury report for the game is coming out today.
The other part of this is starting LB Dee Ford isn’t practicing. That used to be my biggest concern but I think with Houston they would still be able to generate some sort of pass rush so this is less of a concern for me. The Chiefs would have Frank Zombo and Tanoh Kpassagnon at pass rusher if Ford can’t go. He has missed two consecutive practice so it’s a good bet he won’t play.