Chiefs’ Week 7 dominance over Raiders was nearly perfect, except for this aspect
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs dominated Raiders 31-0, producing 30 first downs and 434 total yards.
- Offensive line suffered multiple exits: Simmons away, Smith and Taylor injured.
- Reserves Caliendo, Nourzad and Morris filled roles; injury report due Thursday.
The Chiefs’ injury report should make for some interesting reading this coming week, especially as it pertains to the offensive line.
Kansas City went into Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders missing just one player, rookie left tackle Josh Simmons. He’s away from the team for personal reasons and the timetable for his return remains unknown.
The Chiefs plugged free agent Jaylon Moore into the position on Sunday, and he was part of a dominating effort in a 31-0 victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
But before the Week 7 game was over, right guard Trey Smith left the field with what Chiefs head coach Andy Reid would later describe as a “locked-up back” and right tackle Jawaan Taylor would exit with a shoulder issue.
Smith, who appeared to get hurt on the Chiefs’ first touchdown — quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 2-yard flip to wide receiver Rashee Rice in the first quarter — had left the bench area by halftime.
Taylor remained on the bench and likely would have subbed out later, when Reid sent in the reserves when the game grew more lopsided.
Mike Caliendo filled in for Smith and finished out the game. Being a pinch-hitter isn’t new for Caliendo, an NFL and Chiefs veteran who started three games late in the 2024 regular season and three playoff games when former KC guard Joe Thuney moved to left tackle.
Caliendo had played just 15 offensive snaps through six games this season before Sunday.
“Every opportunity to get to be out there is important,” he said, “and you have to make the most of it. I just tried to step in and fill Trey’s role to the best of my ability.”
Among other O-line changes as Sunday’s game progressed, Hunter Nourzad — who had previously appeared in just one game on special teams this season — finished the afternoon at center, with Wanya Morris playing right tackle.
“Mike’s always given us great snaps, Wayna’s given us great snaps,” Mahomes said. “So whenever their number gets called, they’re ready to go. They have pride and they’re going to show everybody who they are.
“When they play like that, we can go out there and score on anybody.”
It didn’t seem to matter who was on the field for the Chiefs in this game against the overmatched Raiders. KC scored touchdowns on its first four possessions, driving 92, 84, 94 and 65 yards, and Harrison Butker kicked a field goal on the fifth.
Mahomes was replaced by Gardner Minshew late in the third quarter, and most of the subs got extensive playing time as the Chiefs piled up 30 first downs and 434 total yards. The first downs set a Chiefs franchise record.
The Raiders, meanwhile, managed just three first downs and 95 total yards. It was the fourth time in franchise history the Chiefs held an opponent to less than 100 yards, and the first time since 1997 — when the defense was led by the late and legendary Derrick Thomas.
“The team put us in a great position,” Nourzad said, “and I was grateful for the opportunity.”
Also leaving the game early was defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott with a knee injury.
It’s been a mostly injury-free season for the Chiefs. On the offensive line, the first game missed by a starter came in last week’s victory over the Detroit Lions, when Moore subbed for Simmons.
The injury report in the week to come — the first update will arrive Thursday with the Chiefs playing host to the Washington Commanders in Week 8 on “Monday Night Football” — should reveal whether that trend continues.
This story was originally published October 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM.