The Kansas City Chiefs are sitting pretty at a perfect 2-0 through the first two weeks of the NFL season, and honestly, a massive reason for that scorching start has gotta be rookie left tackle Kahlil Benson. With starting left tackle Josh Simmons sidelined with a shoulder injury, Benson, who used to play right tackle at the University of Indiana, has stepped in to protect the blind side. And let me tell you, this dude hasn’t just filled a spot; he’s absolutely owned it. He’s played every single possible snap on that critical blind side, all 149 of them per Pro Football Focus, making it look easy against some tough opponents.
This Rookie’s Got Power, Period. The Coaches See It.
Benson hasn’t just been a placeholder; he’s been a force. Yeah, he’s had a few rookie moments, giving up four hurries and two quarterback hits over his first two games. But here’s the absolute best part, the stat that should make every Chiefs fan pump their fist: he hasn’t been faulted for *any* of the four sacks Patrick Mahomes has taken against the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts! That’s massive for a rookie protecting arguably the most important player in the league. He’s held his own on pass downs, no doubt, but it’s his run blocking that has really exploded onto the scene. Before the season even began, Head Coach Andy Reid straight up called Benson “one of the Chiefs’ five best linemen.” A rookie, already in the top tier of an NFL offensive line? That’s just wild. Chiefs offensive line coach Andy Heck totally saw this potential early on, too, noting during the preseason that they “could see [Benson] had dominant physical traits.” He’s been putting that on full display from day one.
Effortless Power and What It Means for the Chiefs’ Future
You want to see pure, “effortless power”? Just watch Benson. He’s got these hands that just move grown men off the line, even climbing to the second level to nonchalantly pancake a Colts safety. This guy fires off the ball with an urgency that’s infectious, using his massive 6-foot-6-inch frame and 34 1/2-inch arms to carve out huge lanes for the running backs. Remember Kenneth Walker’s 10 carries to the left side against Indianapolis? Those runs racked up 69 rushing yards, an insane 6.9 yards per attempt, all thanks to the space Benson was opening up. After the Indy game, Reid was practically beaming with pride. He admitted there were “a couple hiccups,” sure, but immediately qualified that by saying Benson was “going against a good player” and still “did a decent job.” Reid even gave a massive shout-out to GM Brett Veach for his “great eyes” in finding Benson as a walk-on, and to Coach Heck for believing in him and coaching him up. “I think he’s winning over a lot of people,” Reid said, and you can practically hear the league taking notice. The big question looming now, with Josh Simmons’ return on the horizon, is what the heck happens next? Does Benson just keep rolling at left tackle, or do they slide him over to the right side? Either way, this kid has proven he belongs, and he’s already a serious problem for defenses across the league.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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