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UPDATE: 5:21 p.m. Arrowhead Time
The Chiefs officially place Martinas Rankin on injured reserve, ending his season. In a corresponding move, the Chiefs signed tackle Jackson Barton off the Indianapolis Colts practice squad.
Martinas Rankin has been placed on injured reserve.
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 11, 2019
We have signed OT Jackson Barton from the Colts practice squad. pic.twitter.com/jGFGlMxMqd
Barton, 24, stands a 6 feet 7 and 302 pounds. The Colts selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft but he did not make Indianapolis’ initial 53-man-roster. Barton played college football at Utah, where he started at left tackle. He has experience at both tackle positions.
His brother, Cody, is a linebacker with the Seattle Seahawks.
Clearly a ploy to get his brother Cody to come play LB for the Chiefs in the future.
— Craig Stout (@barleyhop) November 11, 2019
Jackson Barton is a project OT. Needs plenty of seasoning. https://t.co/Llw6RrnIfg
Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Martinas Rankin’s season is likely over, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
#Chiefs OL Martinas Rankin, who came to KC in the Carlos Hyde trade with the #Texans, suffered a knee injury that is likely season-ending, source said. He’ll have an MRI today, but the belief is he suffered an injury to his patella.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 11, 2019
Rankin left the Chiefs’ game with the Tennessee Titans by way of a cart, which is never a great sign. As Rapoport noted, the Chiefs acquired Rankin in exchange for running back Carlos Hyde at the 53-man roster cutdown in late August.
Due to injuries along the offensive line, Rankin started five games at left guard before suffering what is thought to be the season-ending knee injury on Sunday.
When starting right tackle Mitch Schwartz had to leave the game due to his own injury, Rankin slid over to his position. Rankin was injured in just one fill-in play at right tackle.
Left to right OL: Cam Erving, Stefen Wisniewski, Austin Reiter, Nick Allegretti, Andrew Wylie
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) November 10, 2019
Following Rankin and Schwartz having to leave the game, the Chiefs played Cam Erving at left tackle, Stefen Wisniewski at left guard, Austin Reiter at center, Nick Allegretti at right guard and Andrew Wylie at right tackle. Schwartz eventually returned to the game.
The Chiefs could get two original offensive line starters back this week — left tackle Eric Fisher and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. Fisher hasn’t played since Week 2 and Duvernay-Tardif hasn’t played since Week 8.
Both players returning to the lineup would help what has become a bit of a numbers game for the Chiefs along the offensive line.