Mitchell

Schwartz

Limited to six games by back woes in 2020, 33-year-old Schwartz spent 2021 as a free agent. The No. 37 overall pick of the 2012 Draft by the Browns, Schwartz had his best years after arriving in Kansas City in 2016, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2018. He was a second-team All-Pro three more times as a Chief. Schwartz remained one of the best right tackles in football until his back problems set in. Those injury issues combined with Schwartz’s age means we probably won’t be seeing any comeback attempts.

Both he and LT Eric Fisher’s releases create roughly $18 million in cap space and signify Kansas City’s desire to overhaul that unit immediately through free agency and the draft. 32 in June, Schwartz is also said to be eyeing retirement, rather than testing the market, after his 7,894 snap-streak came to a halt this year. Fans should expect another significant transaction in the next 48 hours as the Chiefs remain $5 million over the cap.

Schwartz’s back injury limited to six games last year. There was hope he could return for the playoffs, but he never got cleared. The surgery likely knocks Schwartz out for OTAs and makes him questionable for the start of training camp. Schwartz should be fully healthy for Week 1.

It’s uninspiring news after the Chiefs lost LT Eric Fisher with an Achilles’ injury in Sunday’s win over the Bills. Kansas City has plugged holes up front with Mike Remmers, Andrew Wylie and Nick Allegretti to this point and will likely be forced to continue doing so with Schwartz eyeing another absence for the Super Bowl. Wylie, an undrafted free agent guard, will continue replacing Schwartz in Tampa Bay.

Schwartz has been battling this flare up for a couple of weeks. It’s a slight downgrade for Patrick Mahomes and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, although the offense should face little pressure against Vegas on Sunday Night Football.

They were close contacts of COVID-positive OT Martinas Rankin. Evidently, both have passed enough tests to return to team activities. It is a major bullet dodged for the defending Super Bowl champions ahead of Sunday’s game with the COVID-ravaged Raiders.

Fisher and Schwartz, locked-in starters at left and right tackle, are believed to have been close-contacts of Rankin, which would allow both to return following five consecutive days of negative tests. The Chiefs are fully expected to travel and play in Las Vegas this upcoming Sunday.

Schwartz entered the game with a back injury and appears to have reaggravated the ailment. Kansas City doesn’t seem to be missing a beat as Clyde Edwards-Helaire is averaging 8.1 yards per carry and already has 113 yards on the day. Losing Schwartz is less than ideal but the Chiefs’ offensive machine should continue to role versus the Bills. Kansas City also ruled out DE Alex Okafor, who has .5 sacks through three games this year.

Schwartz left for the locker room in the first quarter before being ruled questionable to return. He has started 133 consecutive regular-season games but came into this game with a questionable tag because of a back injury. Schwartz likely reaggravated that injury early in the game. He has been an integral part of the Chiefs’ offensive line for the past four seasons. Patrick Mahomes may be looking to get the ball out of his hands slightly faster if Schwartz is unable to return.

Schwartz had two years remaining on his deal, so he’s now signed through his age-31 season. The timing is a surprise, but Schwartz is one of the top right tackles in the league. Schwartz will continue to bookend Eric Fisher in 2019.