The Chargers aren't the only team with health and injury issues along the offensive line. On Tuesday, the Chiefs announced that LT Josh Simmons would be placed on IR. The rookie left tackle has been one of the top pass protectors in the league this season. Via PFF, Simmons has a 75.5 pass blocking grade with just 18 pressures allowed on 526 offensive snaps.
Simmons isn't the only injury that the Chiefs are dealing with on their offensive line either. Starting RT Jawaan Taylor missed practice on Wednesday with a left tricep injury. Chiefs RG Trey Smith suffered an ankle injury vs. the Colts and missed last week's game vs. Dallas. He also did not practice on Wednesday.
The Chiefs face an offensive line setback that could aid the Chargers after placing Josh Simmons on IR.
On Thanksgiving against Kansas City, Dallas forced the second highest pressure rate against QB Patrick Mahomes this season. Via PFF's charting, Kansas City also gave up the most pressures of their season so far with Dallas' defense putting up 19.
The Chiefs could very well face the Texans' defensive line this week with at least 1-3 starters eventually ruled out. In their last three games, Houston has produced 73 pressures. From a Chargers standpoint, that's a high leverage game in the AFC wild card hunt before they take on Kansas City next week.
The Chargers' pass rush was able to bounce back against the Raiders after struggling vs. Jacksonville. They were able to pressure Geno Smith 16 times and bring him down for five sacks. But there will be some questions about just how consistent Jesse Minter's pass rushing unit can be from game to game. The Chargers are just 17th in ESPN's pass rush win rate. In fairness, they are T-6th in the league with 34 sacks on the season.
Los Angeles will have to string together several quality pass rush weeks together to be taken seriously on defense in the AFC. That would start with at the very least taking advantage of the Eagles and Chiefs' current offensive line situations.
Simmons not playing is a big break in addition to the other possible offensive line absences for the Chiefs next week. However, Los Angeles still needs to remain disciplined about QB Patrick Mahomes' ability to avoid sacks. He has a 12.7% pressure to sack rate for his career even if he is slightly higher at 16.3% this season. That figure is still 2.2% better than his sack rate of 18.5% last year. It might be easy to get pressure on Mahomes with a banged up O-Line, but he can still make an opposing defense pay with his eyes and legs if he's not brought down for a sack.