The Kansas City Chiefs, already thin at defensive tackle, will need to find another interior body as their 2025 second-round pick, Omarr Norman-Lott, will be out for the season after tearing his ACL in Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
When the Kansas City Chiefs let Mike Pennel become a free agent, the team had high hopes that Omarr Norman-Lott would be the fix inside their defensive line.
The former Tennessee Vols standout defender was beginning to hit his stride in the Chiefs’ defense. However, after a personal foul on Las Vegas Tackle, Stone Forsythe, who fell on top of the Chiefs defender, had to be helped off the field, thus ending his season.
After an MRI on Monday morning, it was revealed by NFL Insider Ian Rappaport that Normal-Lott tore his ACL. That leaves the Chiefs very thin at the position. Unless they find a trade partner, veteran Jerry Tillery will have to split snaps with Derrick Nnadi.
With Chris Jones playing more inside the last two weeks, the loss of Normal-Lott will force the Chiefs to find another defensive tackle. The Chiefs’ second-round pick has dealt with a series of injuries since training camp, and this is just the latest.
His rehab will be lengthy, and for a big defensive lineman, it could be a year before he gets back on the field. Now, General Manager Brett Veach is going to need to find another body that can replace the productive snaps of his rookie defensive tackle.
One name to keep an eye on is former Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkens, who was cut this summer by the AFC West team. He and the Raiders battled over his foot injury. Las Vegas doctors suggested foot surgery, but Wilkens objected.
The talk in NFL circles is that he might not be ready to play in the NFL until November, but that doesn’t mean the Chiefs can’t sign him. If his timetable is still a few weeks out, it’s possible that with KC’s Bye Week in three weeks, it could give him ample time to work with the Chiefs’ medical staff and trainers.
Kansas City does have three young interior defensive linemen on the practice squad: Broderic Martin, Zaach Pickens, and Marlon Tuipoluto. Another option might be one of their 2025 undrafted free agents, Coziah Izzard from Penn State.
The Chiefs paid him a solid signing bonus, and currently, he’s a free agent. He has the size and defensive skills that served him well at Penn State.
