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With training camp on the horizon, time is ticking for the Chiefs and RG Trey Smith to get a deal done.

The Kansas City Chiefs will likely be missing a key piece of their offensive line for this week’s game against the Washington Commanders.

The team announced on its final injury report on Saturday that right guard Trey Smith was doubtful for the Monday night game, putting his streak of more than three years without missing a game in serious jeopardy.

The Chiefs are already down one starter on the offensive line, and Smith’s absence could put them in even more trouble against an aggressive defensive line.

Trey Smith Struggling With Back Injury

Smith’s status may not come as much of a surprise after he missed practices on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. He was knocked out of last week’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders, missing the majority of the game after suffering the back injury.

Head coach Andy Reid said earlier in the week that Smith was showing some improvement, but the team would need to see how he progressed through the week.

“And then Trey (Smith), he’s got low back spasms, and so we’ll see if that doesn’t — it’s getting better,” Reid told reporters on Thursday, via AtoZ Sports. “We’ll just see how it goes.”

But Smith then proceeded to miss the next two practices, leading to the team’s doubtful designation on Saturday. It’s not clear if he’s in danger of missing the team’s next game as they face the Buffalo Bills on a short week, the final game before their bye week.

As Zak Gilbert of SI.com noted, Smith is now in danger of missing his first game in more than three years. The guard has been a stalwart through most of his career, missing only one previous game since being drafted four years ago.

“Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith, listed as doubtful with lower-back spasms, hasn’t missed a game since Oct. 10, 2022, when a pectoral injury forced him to miss a 30-29 win over the Raiders,” Gilbert wrote. “Including postseason, Smith has started 87 of a possible 88 games since the Chiefs selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 draft.”

Chiefs Give Update on Josh Simmons

The Chiefs have already missed tackle Josh Simmons while he is on personal leave from the team. While the team has not given many details on the reason for the absence or when he is expected to return, head coach Andy Reid had a somewhat positive update on Simmons this week.

“My update for you with Josh would just be, there’s communication,” Reid told reporters, via CBS Sports. “I’m not going to get into all of it. Everything’s positive. It’s not a negative situation. He’s taking care of family.”

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also addressed the absence, saying he has been in contact with Simmons but wants to respect the rookie’s privacy regarding the absence.

“I’ll keep conversations kind of between us,” Mahomes told reporters last week. “But I’m always praying for him. I’m praying for all my teammates, so I’m always praying for him. I’ll just keep everything else kind of private to us.”

Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty