The Kansas City Chiefs made it clear at Arrowhead that they’re back in the mix, earning a convincing win over the Las Vegas Raiders. However, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid acknowledged a significant setback for the rest of the season, following a devastating injury to one of their rookies.
Omarr Norman-Lott, a defensive tackle who joined the Chiefs in the latest draft from the Tennessee Volunteers, suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season — a significant loss for a team with title aspirations.
The news was confirmed by NFL insider Ian Rapoport, who reported via his X (formerly Twitter) account this significant setback for the HC and his staff, who will now have to carefully evaluate how to replace him moving forward.
“Chiefs DT Omarr Norman-Lott, their second rounder this year, suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season, sources say. The promising young lineman turns his attention to a full recovery for 2026,“ the insider reported via @RapSheet.
Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Reid’s options at the position
The knee injury to rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott creates a sudden depth crisis for Andy Reid’s Chiefs defense. While veteran Derrick Nnadi is already slated for a starting role, the rotational pressure now falls heavily on Jerry Tillery to provide interior disruption next to Chris Jones.
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Kansas City’s front office may be forced to look at outside help to avoid overworking their top linemen, especially in run defense, as Norman-Lott’s snaps will be difficult to replace.
Norman-Lott’s impact on the Chiefs’ game
The loss of rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott due to injury is a notable blow to the Chiefs’ interior pass rush rotation. The second-round pick was developing into a key sub-package disrupter, having already recorded 1.0 sack and 3 pressures in his limited Week 2-4 snaps.
His absence means more snaps for veteran Derrick Nnadi and Jerry Tillery, raising concerns that the Chiefs will lack the explosive, penetrating interior pass-rush depth they drafted Norman-Lott to provide alongside Chris Jones.
