Chiefs’ offensive lineman Jeff Allen makes first start since 2014 opener

Every week Andy Reid got the question, and every week the answer was somewhat vague.

“What’s Jeff Allen’s status?”

Getting close, Reid would say. Sometimes Reid would change it up. Getting closer, he would say.

Sunday, close was over. Jeff Allen returned to the starting lineup as Reid shuffled the offensive line and helped the Chiefs to a 23-13 victory over the Steelers.

“It felt unbelievable,” Allen said. “To get back out there with my teammates, compete and find a way to win a game. I’m just so happy to get another opportunity, to be healthy again. There’s nothing like competition.

“You’re away from the game, you miss it like crazy.”

Allen started at right tackle and Eric Fisher shifted over the left tackle. It was Allen’s first starting assignment in more than a year when he started all 16 games of the 11-5 season at left guard.

Allen missed most of last season because of an elbow injury. He arrived at training camp this season and was shifted to right tackle, starting the preseason opener at Arizona.

But Allen strained his MCL in that game, missing the rest of the preseason. He was on the inactive list for the first three games of the regular season. Allen played briefly in the previous three games, logging 16 special-teams snaps on the field-goal unit and as an offensive lineman when the Chiefs went with an unbalanced line.

But Sunday, Allen was back in force.

“Jeff brings a little juice,” Reid said. “He’s got a certain attitude.”

Allen’s start meant the Chiefs trotted out their fourth different offensive line this season. Sunday, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif returned to the starting lineup.

The Chiefs amassed 377 total yards. Alex Smith was sacked twice, but two offensive touchdowns were the most in a game since the loss to the Packers last month.

Allen got a sense earlier in the week that he was in store for more playing time.

“I was getting most of the reps with the 1s,” Allen said. “Each week I prepare like I’m going to play and this week I got a few more reps than usual.”

Could this be the group that gains continuity, starting together this week when the Chiefs travel to London to face the Lions?

“I thought they did some good things,” Reid said. “They seem to work well together. We’ll see.”

This story was originally published October 25, 2015 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Chiefs’ offensive lineman Jeff Allen makes first start since 2014 opener."