The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have a variety of new faces alongside the offensive line heading into the 2021 season. One not-so-new, however returning face is lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who opted out of the 2020 season as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas the Chiefs are excited to deliver him again into the fold, there was a bump — or break — within the street. In accordance with Ian Rapoport of the NFL Community, the 30-year-old is anticipated to be out 4-6 weeks after lately breaking a bone in his hand throughout observe. 

The excellent news for Duvernay-Tardif and the Chiefs, per Rapoport, is that no surgical procedure is critical, which leaves the likelihood open to be again able to play by the Week 1 opener. 

Duvernay-Tardif is getting into his seventh season within the NFL, all of which have been with the Chiefs. The sixth-round choose in 2014 has confirmed to be a dependable piece alongside the Kansas Metropolis offensive line, beginning in 57 of his 60 regular-season video games. He additionally began all three of the Chiefs’ playoff video games in the course of the 2019 season, together with their win over the San Francisco 49ers in Tremendous Bowl LIV. 

After an offseason the place the membership revamped its offensive line, nonetheless, Duvernay-Tardif might be taking a look at a reserve position. Within the membership’s preliminary depth chart of the 90-man roster, rookie Trey Smith is slated because the beginning proper guard with Duvernay-Tardif located because the backup. 

Throughout his opt-out season in 2020, Duvernay-Tardif — a graduate from McGill College School of Medication — labored as an orderly at a long-term care facility in Montreal in the course of the pandemic. For his efforts combating towards the pandemic, he was a co-winner of the Lou Marsh Trophy, which is an award given to Canada’s high athlete for the yr.