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Chiefs’ Omarr Norman-Lott Nearing Return After Brutal Injury Run
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- Chiefs’ Omarr Norman-Lott Nearing Return After Brutal Injury Run
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
The Kansas City Chiefs are finally seeing light at the end of a very dark tunnel for Omarr Norman-Lott. Head coach Andy Reid gave fans a rare moment of hope on Wednesday regarding the defensive tackle who has missed almost his entire career so far. The team needs fresh legs in the trenches before the playoff push gets serious, and the timing could not be better.
Reid spoke to the media during his standard Wednesday availability and dropped a simple but massive line about the former second-round pick. "He is getting better. He's getting closer," Reid said, per Heavy.com . That is the first real good news for a player who has suffered three separate major injuries in less than a year. Norman-Lott suffered an ACL tear during Week 7 of his rookie season, a setback that could have finished his year but may actually launch his return.
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A Young Lineman Who Can't Catch a Break
The injury luck for this 24-year-old from Tennessee has been nothing short of brutal. An ankle problem in the preseason caused him to miss Week 1 at the beginning of his career. Then a shoulder injury hit just before Week 5. Two weeks later, the ACL tear ended his first year prematurely. He has not seen the field since September 14, 2025. The Chiefs drafted him high because of his talent, but the league has been mean to him.
Without him, the team has leaned hard on backup Peter Woods. Woods has been on the field for as many as 57% of defensive snaps in a single game, representing a significant burden for a rookie. Veteran Chris Jones also took a massive hit, playing 81% of snaps in Week 4. The defense has held up, but the depth is thin. A return for Norman-Lott would take the pressure off both Jones and Woods immediately.
The Path Back to the Field
Norman-Lott is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but the rules allow him to return after the bye week. He missed the mandatory four games on PUP, which clears the path for his activation. Reid noted back on September 23 that a return was a "possibility," and now it looks like a reality. The team is set to host the winless Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Arrowhead Stadium. This game could be his first action back.
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The Chiefs are still the only undefeated team in the AFC, but they cannot afford to lose their depth if they want to stay there. The 30-27 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 4 showed they can win close games, but injuries always lurk. If Norman-Lott can get back to his pre-injury form, the defensive line becomes scary again.
