The Kansas City Chiefs lost their second preseason game on Sunday, falling on the road in Tampa Bay to the Buccaneers in a close one, 16-15. The starters on offense — minus QB Patrick Mahomes — only played one drive, so it’s not worth fretting about a preseason result or what it says about the relative strength of both teams.
That said, the Chiefs did come away from this game with one major concern: the presumed starter at right tackle. Kahlil Benson, a rookie undrafted free agent from Indiana, has been the story of Kansas City’s training camp, pushing veteran Jaylon Moore hard for the starting right tackle spot. In recent weeks, Benson absorbed almost all of the first-team reps at that position, while still working with the second unit at guard.
But after his documented struggles on Saturday, the Chiefs might be hitting the panic button.
The Athletic’s Jesse Newell on Kansas City Chiefs UDFA RT Kahlil Benson
GettyST JOSEPH, MISSOURI – JULY 25: Josh Thompson #62, Pete Nygra #50 and Kahlil Benson #70 walk toward the practice field during Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western State University on July 25, 2026 in St Joseph, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“Benson’s poor game Saturday, however, is likely to give the Chiefs some pause about throwing him into a starting role right away,” The Athletic’s Jesse Newell wrote. “Benson was beaten twice at right tackle on pass sets — once by the Bucs’ Rueben Bain Jr. and once by Anthony Nelson — to allow a QB pressure and strip-sack on a pair of third-down plays.”
“There’s a reason the jump Benson was trying to make is monumental,” Newell continued. “Some learning curve should be expected, and based on Saturday, the Chiefs might be wise to give him more time to develop.”
ESPN’s Nate Taylor on Chiefs UDFA RT Kahlil Benson
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 09: Roman Hemby #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers (now of the Kansas City Chiefs) is pulled by teammate Kahlil Benson #67 of the Indiana Hoosiers against the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“The team invested most of training camp in preparing Kahlil Benson, the undrafted rookie from Indiana [to start at right tackle],” ESPN Chiefs reporter Nate Taylor wrote after the game. “Benson’s performance Saturday, however, was quite disappointing. He struggled in pass protection, surrendering quick pressure to rookie Rueben Bain Jr. and a strip-sack to outside linebacker Anthony Nelson.”
“At this point, the Chiefs likely move Benson to guard, where he played much better against the Los Angeles Rams last week. Jaylon Moore, a five-year veteran, hasn’t been impressive, either. But Moore is likely the Chiefs’ most ideal option. The only other possibility is Esa Pole, a second-year player who took snaps Saturday at left tackle with the second-team offense.”
It could be another long season for the Chiefs if they can’t solve the right tackle position. One of Moore or Benson needs to step up.
Chiefs Facing Offensive Line Concerns After Rookie’s Preseason ‘Struggles’