ST.BREAKING: The Kansas City Chiefs have made a surprise practice-roster upgrade ahead of their Thanksgiving showdown with the Dallas Cowboys — a quiet but calculated move that signals a potential shift in Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes’ offensive strategy. 😳🔥
The Kansas City Chiefs made a pair of practice squad elevations for the Week 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, and one of them is a bit of a surprise.
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The Chiefs announced they elevated veteran S Mike Edwards and T Esa Pole from the practice squad for Thursday’s game. Edwards is an expected move, with the team ruling out DB Chris Roland-Wallace.
Edwards, of course, played in Kansas City in 2023. He appeared in 17 regular-season games with the, including five games started. During that span, he amassed 51 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, two fumble recoveries, including one returned 101 yards for a TD. He started all four games for Kansas City this postseason en route to the Super Bowl LVIII win, recording 12 total tackles, an interception, and two passes defended.
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The surprising move is the elevation of Pole, who returned to the Chiefs’ practice squad after being released by the New York Jets. He was a preseason standout at offensive tackle for Kansas City, but they lost him on waivers to New York during final roster cuts.
Chiefs OL Esa Pole’s practice squad elevation may signal a different offensive line plan for Week 13
The Chiefs have some unique stuff going on with their offensive line right now, which makes the Esa Pole elevation all the more unique. Chiefs starting RG Trey Smith has been ruled out for the Week 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys with an ankle injury. Chiefs backup OG Mike Caliendo is expected to start in Smith’s place, despite struggling in the second half of Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts. That leaves Hunter Nourzad as the lone backup interior offensive lineman on the 53-man roster.
In past weeks, when they’ve dealt with interior offensive line injuries, the Chiefs have elevated second-year OL C.J. Hanson. He was promoted in Week 8 against the Washington Commanders and Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills. Perhaps the Chiefs didn’t want to exhaust his elevations for this game?
Chiefs OT Esa Pole’s Preseason Stats
- Games played: 3
- Offensive snaps: 46
- Pressures allowed: 0
The other part of this that intrigues is that Wanya Morris was a healthy scratch in Week 12 against the Colts. I’d be surprised if he were active in Week 13, especially with Pole potentially being active following his elevation from the practice squad.
All in all, Pole’s elevation suggests the Chiefs may have a different plan for their offensive line in Week 13 against the Cowboys. During training camp, the Chiefs actually played swing tackle Jaylon Moore at right guard. Could he potentially be in line to start in place of Smith and not Caliendo? If that were to happen, I’d expect Pole to slide into the swing tackle spot.
Charles Goldman is an NFL Managing Editor for A to Z Sports. He has been covering the Kansas City Chiefs for a decade.
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