TL;DR
- Kansas City Chiefs skill players are healthy, but offensive lineman Trey Smith is out with ankle sprains.
- Smith's absence is critical for the Chiefs' playoff hopes, as he is a top offensive lineman.
- Backup Mike Caliendo struggled previously, and now faces a tough Dallas defensive interior.
- Both the Chiefs and Cowboys are desperate for a late-season playoff push.
Regarding the skill positions, the Kansas City Chiefs are healthier than they've been in weeks. However, will this be sufficient to fuel a late-season playoff push when other, arguably more critical, team areas are not at 100 percent?
Due to a suspension, Rashee Rice sat out the initial games. Xavier Worthy's injuries have led to him missing several games and appearing intermittently on the injury report this season. Isiah Pacheco was sidelined for the past four weeks because of an MCL sprain.
As the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against K.C. Approached, none of their players had an injury designation. Their injury report was spotless, with the exception of one significant problem: a key member of their offensive line would be absent for Week 13 and potentially for several weeks following.
“Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Isiah Pacheco and WRs Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are all officially off the injury report and good to go tomorrow vs. Dallas. Guard Trey Smith (ankle) is out.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, running back Isiah Pacheco, and wide receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy have all been cleared from their injury designations and are ready to play tomorrow against Dallas.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 26, 2025
Guard Trey Smith (ankle) is out.
While Trey Smith might not be as widely known as Rice, Worthy, Pacheco, or Mahomes, his significance to the Chiefs' potential season turnaround and playoff aspirations is nearly as great as theirs (Mahomes excluded). Given he's dealing with both low and high ankle sprains, his absence might extend beyond a single game.
The Chiefs' path to the playoffs probably requires winning four of their remaining six contests. This is a considerable challenge. Consequently, each game carries increased significance, including this Thanksgiving Day game against the Cowboys, which occurs on a short week.
This season, Smith has been K.C.'s most reliable and top-performing offensive lineman, aside from Center Creed Humphrey. PFF's offensive grades rank him second among the team's starters (70.2), and he's among the NFL's top 15 guards for pass protection, having allowed just one sack so far.
The team will miss him because backup Mike Caliendo struggled during Smith's sole previous absence this season in Week 8. He allowed five pressures, three hurries, and a sack in that game, earning a poor 34.3 pass-blocking grade.
He must now confront Dallas' enhanced defensive interior during his second significant period of action this season. Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark have proven troublesome in the center since their collaboration. Across their two shared matchups, they've collectively generated 16 QB pressures, seven QB hits, three TFLs, and 2.0 sacks, securing victory in both games.
The 5-5-1 Cowboys, aiming for a late-season playoff push, are equally as desperate as the 6-5 Chiefs.