Trey Smith doesn’t get a lot of easy days at the office. As the starting right guard for the Kansas City Chiefs his job of blocking 300-pound linemen isn’t glamourous but it’s of the utmost importance.
All the highlight-reel plays the Chiefs offense makes isn’t possible without players like Smith doing their jobs at a high level. And that’s exactly what Smith takes pride in.
“I think it’s just the worker’s mentality,” Smith said. “We talk about the mentality that it doesn’t matter how you feel or the state you’re in. Get the job done. Whatever it takes, whatever it means. Ultimately that’s how I try to play the game. Play hard no matter what happens. Play hard for my teammates, play hard for my brothers beside me.
“Ultimately our goal is to get a win every week. And so you play with that mentality that whatever it takes, I’m going to give my effort on this field, and I think positive things will come out of it.”
That attitude has helped Smith right from the beginning. He has been a starter since the Chiefs drafted him in the sixth round out of Tennessee in 2021. Smith’s stock dropped somewhat as he had issues with blood clots in his lungs in 2018 but he has had no setbacks since.
“For me, it was a life-changing event,” Smith said. “Obviously anytime you have something that threatens your health and overall wellbeing, it’s different. And to experience that at a young age, it changed me a lot. And being able to bring more awareness to the cause and potentially save lives, I’m ecstatic. I’m stoked that I can have this platform.
“Major shoutout to the University of Tennessee. Their medical staff did their due diligence to make sure I was safe to play and safe in my normal life as well. And the Kansas City Chiefs’ medical staff has done a phenomenal job as well just making sure that they were comfortable with the plan. And like I said, we’ve had zero instances, zero issues whatsoever, and it’s been clean. I thank God for it. And I’m just thankful for my overall health and wellbeing.”
Smith and the Chiefs (9-3) will be back to work when they take on the Broncos (3-9) at 3:05 p.m. Sunday in Denver. Despite the Broncos’ record, Smith said their defense is as stout as ever.
“They’re a very talented front seven,” Smith said. “Having played them last year, they’re extremely athletic. They play hard. There’s no quit in them, and it’s definitely going to be a tremendous challenge up front.”
THUNEY, TONEY QUESTIONABLE
The Chiefs on Friday listed starting left guard Joe Thuney (ankle) and wide receiver/punt returner Kadarius Toney (hamstring) as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Broncos.
Thuney missed the last two games but has shown improvement this week in practice.
“He’s felt better the last couple days,” Reid said, while adding that Toney is “right there on the border” of playing or not playing.
