Laurent Duvernay-Tardif may have earned a starting spot on Chiefs’ offensive line

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif could be the Chiefs’ starter at right guard for the regular-season opener, coach Andy Reid said Friday.

Duvernay-Tardif, the second-year pro, started two preseason games. He, along with several other projected starters, didn’t play in Thursday’s game in St. Louis against the Rams.

“Right now he’s one of the five best guys,” Reid said. “A year ago, I couldn’t have told you that.”

Duvernay-Tardif was something of a long shot as the Chiefs’ sixth-round selection in 2014 Draft. He played at Canada’s McGill University.

“I’m a big McGill University fan,” Reid said. “But the level of football there is not as great as their academics. It’s equivalent to an upper-echelon junior-college in our country.”

Also playing into a possible decision to start Duvernay-Tardif is the health of Jeff Allen, who was running with the starters early in training camp but has missed most of the last month with a knee sprain.

Also missing lengthy time in the preseason was left tackle Eric Fisher (high ankle sprain).

Reid said he thinks Fisher will be ready for the season opener in Houston on Sept. 13.

“Allen is worse than (Fisher is),” Reid said.

This story was originally published September 4, 2015 at 12:55 PM with the headline "Laurent Duvernay-Tardif may have earned a starting spot on Chiefs’ offensive line."