The KC Chiefs Have a Ready-Made Insurance Policy for Nick Bolton's Injury

When you are watching the Kansas City Chiefs, the offense usually steals the show. Thanks to Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce (even before Taylor Swift entered the picture) and Andy Reid, that unit is always must-see TV. In 2023, though, KC's defense has been more than capable, and linebacker Nick Bolton is a key part of that group.

While it is cliché to say that a player seems like he's everywhere, the Missouri product really does cover the entire field. The 23-year-old recorded 112 total tackles as a rookie in 2021 and then one-upped himself in major fashion. In 2022, Bolton piled up an incredible 180 total tackles, establishing himself as a key piece of the Chiefs' defense.

That reality is what makes his wrist injury so painful. The linebacker left Kansas City's game against the LA Chargers in obvious discomfort, and it's possible that he'll spend some time on the sidelines moving forward. But, while you never want to see a starter go down, the Chiefs do have a ready-made insurance policy on the roster: Drue Tranquill.

Bolton Dislocated His Wrist in the Chiefs' Win

On the whole, the Chiefs' victory over the Chargers went rather well for those wearing red, white and gold. The club's offense hummed through the first half. Kelce had a monster afternoon, Rashee Rice continued to look more integrated into the offense, and Mecole Hardman Jr. managed to impact the game. On the opposite side of the ball, the defense did allow some big plays, but the unit largely stood strong and held another opponent under 20 points.

There is one blemish, however, and it looms large.

In the fourth quarter, Bolton stepped up to stop Bolts receiver Keenan Allen. The linebacker stayed down on the turf and, while he eventually left the field under his own power, seemed to be in serious pain.

Bolton's absence didn't affect the game's outcome, but that doesn't mean it was good news. After the final whistle, head coach Andy Reid shared a less-than-ideal update.

"Nick Bolton has a dislocated wrist," Reid said, according to an Arrowhead Pride write-up. "They're working on that now, and we'll see how he does. He really had a heck of a game up to that point."

That statement didn't really connect the dots, but it's safe to say that the organization will be collectively holding its breath.

Not only is Bolton a mobile tackler, capable of covering the width of the field, but he is a leader within the defense. He started wearing the green dot full-time, handling communication duties as the starting MIKE [the middle linebacker on defense] in 2022 and Bolton continued in that role this season.

It's unclear how a dislocated wrist will affect his 2023 campaign. If Bolton needs surgery, it's safe to assume he'll miss a good chunk of time. If he doesn't go under the knife, he could probably return sooner, but it would be fair to question his effectiveness. Wearing a club on his hand would allow the linebacker to play, but it's never an ideal situation.

Drue Tranquill Is Well-Positioned to Fill the Void

While it's tough to fit genuine replacements for starters in under the salary cap—if you're paying someone the big bucks, it's a waste to have them on the bench—the Chiefs do have a pretty good replacement for Bolton: Drue Tranquill.

Kansas City acquired the linebacker during the summer, inking him to a one-year contract worth $3 million. He spent the previous four seasons of his NFL career with the Chargers.

Trusting a new arrival to step into the shoes of a defensive leader is a tough ask, Tranquill is suited to the role. His tackling numbers don't exactly matchup to Bolton's, but 146 total tackles during the 2022 season is a respectable haul. The former charger is also mobile, theoretically allowing him to cover the entire field.

And, on a less tangible level, the linebacker was labeled the "heart and soul" of LA's defense last season.

When it comes to communication, Kansas City has already slotted him into Bolton's position without too much of an issue.

Earlier this year, Bolton missed Weeks 3, 4 and 5 with a sprained ankle, Tranquill assumed MIKE duties. The Chiefs won those contests, and the linebacker received positive reviews for his performances.

"I thought he [Tranquill] did a great job," linebacker coach Brendan Daly said between Week 3 and Week 4. "He has been working since the day he got here, but he's been doing a lot of different things, he's learned multiple roles. The situation came up with Nick [Bolton] and he was ready to go, he works his tail off. It's very important to him. He cares a lot about getting it right, so to speak. I would say he did an excellent job.

"The communication on the field was really good, he got us in and out of a couple checks, [he] managed the game well—[it] wasn't perfect, there were a couple things that I think even he would tell you he'd like to fix or correct but based on what he had on his plate I thought he did a really nice job."

Tranquill's defensive teammates shared a similar sentiment.

"It was huge," cornerback Trent McDuffie said after the Chiefs beat the Bears in Week 3. "I was really excited that he was able to go out there. Man, this defense is tough. There's a lot of checks and Spags [defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo] puts a lot on our Mike 'backers, but he [Tranquill] just rolled with the punches."

To be clear, losing Bolton for any amount of time is a blow to the Chiefs' defense. Having Tranquill, however, can lessen the blow.

In a worst-case scenario, the former Charger is capable of starting for the rest of the season, and his mobility and leadership skills will help keep the defense rolling. In a best-case scenario, his presence will allow Kansas City to protect Bolton rather than rushing him back to plug a hole immediately.

Either way, it's looking like KC was wise to spend $3 million on Tranquill's contract during the offseason.