It’s easy to forget that for much of 2024, the same personnel question was consistently asked by Chiefs Kingdom: will Kansas City bring back Donovan Smith?

Smith had been a one-year starter for the Chiefs on the left side, and while the level of play wasn’t exactly inspired, Smith skill set and experience also provided a reliable floor for the blindside protector role in front of Patrick Mahomes. The feeling was such that if the Chief felt like they needed some security, Smith could be a candidate to return once again.

It now feels like D.J. Humphries could be following that same script.

Last season, it was actually a bit of a surprise that the Chiefs eschewed the opportunity to add Smith back into the mix after seeing multiple candidates try and fail to play left tackle. Kingsley Suamataia gave way to Wanya Morris who gave way to Humphries who gave way to Joe Thuney sliding over from left guard. Whether due to injury or inconsistency or ineptitude, the Chiefs needed a higher floor.

Andy Reid went with Thuney for the stretch run and the entirety of the postseason, which means Smith is now more than a full year removed from the game. It’s hard at this point to imagine any team is going to call Smith at this stage, though he’s not officially retired.

Will the same thing happen to Humphries?

Humphries joined the Chiefs last season as a free agent signing in late November after being cleared to officially return from rehabilitation. He’d been working out to come back from an unfortunate season-ending injury ACL tear with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023. However, the bid to return to the field was cut short by a hamstring injury that interrupted Humphries’ first start for the Chiefs and he’d never take the field again in 2024.

Given a full offseason, it’s possible Humphries could even re-sign with Kansas City to give them a veteran presence to compete with Jaylon Moore. It’s also possible another team takes the chance on Humphries’ ability to stay healthy with more distance from the ACL tear. But given his age and the failed attempt in ’24, it’s also possible that the phone will remain silent despite Humphries impressive body of work.

Remember this: it was surprising that Donovan Smith was never back in the NFL last season. While no one would mistake him for a Pro Bowl performer, it felt like he would have brought some value to a roster. In a league where tackle play is so unreliable that Dan Moore is making $20 million per season, it feels odd that Smith is cast aside.

Thus it makes sense to wonder if Humphries could suffer the same fate—a once-lauded veteran tackle with seemingly something to offer who could silently slip away instead. Here’s hoping, for Humphries’ sake, that someone comes calling—perhaps even the Chiefs—but we’ve seen the start of this story before.