Kansas City Chiefs starting left tackle Wanya Morris has become the center of attention—and not for the right reasons—after his lackluster performance during the Black Friday game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The game, which resulted in a tight 19-17 victory for the Chiefs, saw Chief quarterback Patrick Mahomes getting sacked five times, leading to significant backlash directed at Morris from die-hard fans.
During the game, Morris's struggles prompted Chiefs head coach Andy Reid to make what turned out to be one of the pivotal decisions of the match. With the score tight and pressure mounting on Mahomes, Reid pulled Morris from the field and replaced him with veteran Joe Thuney. Thuney shifted from his position at left guard to tackle, and backup Mike Caliendo came in to fill Thuney's spot at guard. This adjustment was significant, considering Reid’s acknowledgment of Morris’s struggles.”
Reid, acknowledging the situation post-game, stated, “Yeah, Wanya was struggling a little bit, so I moved Joe [Thuney] over there and Mike [Caliendo] at guard. I thought it was the right thing to do at the time.” The outraged fans voiced their frustrations on social media, with one remarking, “DJ Humphries cannot suit up for this team soon enough. That was atrocious effort from Wanya Morris. [Mahomes] has no chance back there right now.”
The tumult surrounding Morris became more pronounced when fans expressed doubts about his competency, with one user declaring, “At this point, the Chiefs have to bench Wanya Morris after this game. He is getting beat way too often and has surrendered seven sacks over two games.” This stark criticism reflected growing discontent among the fan base, who have considerable expectations for their team, especially with Mahomes playing at the helm.
Some fans seemed to regret having supported Morris earlier, as expressed by another tweet stating, “I have defended Wanya Morris and thought his performance this season has been way above Kingsley Suamataia, but today, I honestly think Kingsley could outperform Wanya. Wanya is having the worst game of his career.” Morris's decline was evident as social media flooded with critiques about the offensive line's overall performance. One particularly harsh comment labeled Morris as “the worst NFL lineman I’ve ever seen start more than one game for his team.”
Interestingly, Morris's spot on the roster had started to feel precarious even before the game against the Raiders. Following his benching and the recent signing of DJ Humphries to the Chiefs, many began speculating about Morris's future on the team. It’s worth noting, too, the Chiefs' defense faced its struggles as well, giving up season-high rushing yards which compounded the team's pressures.
This game served as the latest chapter for the Chiefs, who could barely hold onto their 11-1 season record. Despite the circumstances, the Chiefs found themselves clinching their playoff berth and becoming the first team this season to secure such an accomplishment. But all eyes remained fixated on how they would adjust moving forward, particularly on the offensive line where Morris’s performance had left significant frustrations hovering over the team.
Throughout the clash with the Raiders, Mahomes completed 26 out of 46 pass attempts for 306 yards, one touchdown, marking yet another game where he was heavily pressured by opposing defense. His reaction on the field, reflecting frustration over his lack of protection from the offensive line, raised eyebrows and added to the discussions about team dynamics.
Even with Mahomes expressing visible distress over his protection, the Chiefs managed to snatch victory during the usually high-stakes division rivalry. Realistically, they might not have fully deserved the win, as echoed by another fan whose tweet read, “We didn’t deserve to win. We let a 2-9 team outplay us. The play calling is shocking. Pat has zero protection, and even when he throws, it’s nowhere near good enough.”
This near-disastrous game highlighted the challenges the Chiefs face moving forward. They secured the win, yet not without the undercurrent of concerns revolving around the offensive line and, particularly, the performance of Morris. Those worries will likely remain front and center as the season progresses and the playoff picture starts to sharpen.
With the playoffs fast approaching, fans are eager to see if the coaching staff will change the game plan, especially if Morris’s struggles continue. The Chiefs are known as two-time defending Super Bowl champions, and with such status come high expectations from their fan base. Only time will tell if Morris can redeem himself and help the Chiefs continue their formidable streak or if he’ll become the focal point of more fan frustrations.