Donovan

Smith

Toney suffered a strained hip in Week 15 and has been out ever since. With the Chiefs thinking ahead to the playoffs, it makes sense to give the injury-prone wideout as much time as he needs to recover. Richie James and Justin Watson will continue to see an uptick in routes in Toney’s absence. Left tackle Donovan Smith remains out as well.

Smith will now miss his third game because of the neck issue. Wanya Morris is expected to start in his place once again. Per Pro Football Focus, Morris has allowed nine pressures on 126 pass blocking reps, the bulk of which have come over the past three weeks.

Smith missed Week 14 with a neck stinger and looks likely to sit out at least one more week after missing Wednesday’s practice. Wanya Morris started in his place and will presumably stay at left tackle until Smith returns. Per Pro Football Focus, the third-round rookie has allowed seven pressures on 81 pass-blocking reps this year.

Smith is one of four Chiefs players ruled out for Week 14, as Isiah Pacheco (shoulder), LB Drue Tranquill (concussion), and S Bryan Cook (ankle) have also been ruled out for the contest. This will be Smith’s first missed game of the season, as the veteran has sported a mostly clean bill of health in his first season with the team. Wanya Morris is listed behind Smith on the depth chart and will presumably draw the start in Smith’s absence.

This was the most likely outcome for Smith, who joined the Chiefs on a one-year contract last week. Prior to the team signing Smith, it was widely believed that Jawaan Taylor, who has been a career right tackle with the Jaguars, would get the first crack at the left tackle job. Now, Taylor will return to his familiar role on the right side, while Smith, 29, will hold down the left side.

This move puts away any speculation of Jawaan Taylor, who the Chiefs signed this offseason, playing left tackle in 2023. The Chiefs signed Taylor after opting to move on from Orlando Brown, but Taylor has spent nearly all of his career at right tackle for the Jaguars. Enter Smith, who has played his entire career at left tackle, and won’t turn 30 until June. Smith appeared in 13 games last season for the Bucs, earning a PFF pass block grade of 70.0 while allowing six sacks on 31 pressures. Far from an elite left tackle, Smith is a likely upgrade over Taylor. The Chiefs will officially enter 2023 with new players at both tackle positions after Brown signed with the Bengals and right tackle Andrew Wylie joined the Commanders.

The release, rumored all offseason as the Bucs desperately try to cut their way out of negative-salary cap space, will save $9.95 million. Smith turns 30 in June and has been a solid left tackle at his best, which should mean he’ll have plenty of options on the open market. It’s worth noting that he did not play well last season, but also played through an elbow hyperextension. Tristan Wirfs is expected to move over to left tackle to replace Smith for the Bucs.

The Bucs are in dire straits against the cap, currently $55 million over before they resolve the Tom Brady retirement. It’s possible that they push some of it into 2024, which would bring the cap number down to a more manageable number. Smith did not play well last season while playing through an elbow hyperextension, and Stroud notes that the team could move Tristan Wirfs to left tackle. Cutting Smith would free up $9.95 million, and cutting him with a June 1 designation could free up $15.25 million. He’s by far the easiest of Tampa’s big-salary players to move on from.

There’s no reason for the Bucs to play Smith in a meaningless game. He returned to the lineup in Week 17 after missing time with a foot issue. Smith, protecting Tom Brady’s blindside, should be a full go for the postseason.

Smith missed Week 16 but is back to shore up Tom Brady’s protection against the Panthers’ feisty defense in what amounts to the NFC South championship game. Inactive for Tampa are TE Cameron Brate, CB Carlton Davis, OLB Carl Nassib, WR Breshad Perriman and QB Kyle Trask.