Chiefs: Andy Reid keeps door open for Eric Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz return

Andy Reid is not ruling out a Kansas City Chiefs reunion for Eric Fisher or Mitchell Schwartz.

Even though they were released by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this offseason, head coach Andy Reid is keeping the door open for offensive tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz possibly returning to the team.

Fisher tore his Achilles during the Chiefs’ playoff run in January. Schwartz hardly played at all last year due to his myriad of injuries. With these two book-end tackles being out for Super Bowl LV, the Chiefs had no chance to stop the vaunted pass rush of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Reid reiterated that the only reason these guys were cut was to get in accordance with the salary cap.

Should the Chiefs welcome a return to Kansas City for Fisher and Schwartz in NFL free agency?

Kansas City Chiefs: Could Eric Fisher or Mitchell Schwartz return in 2021?

Ultimately, this feels like an either-or proposition. Kansas City has already signed former New England Patriots offensive lineman Joe Thuney in free agency. The Chiefs also added former Chicago Bears standout Kyle Long after spending a year out of football. Kansas City is also expected to go with an offensive lineman with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Overall, this Chiefs are only going to bring back one of these two guys this offseason, if any. Fisher was their former No. 1 overall pick out of Central Michigan in 2013, but an Achilles injury is no laughing matter. While Schwartz is a former perennial All-Pro, he plays right tackle and only gave the Chiefs six games in his injury-plagued 2020 campaign. Reid being optimistic is really only that.

Though the Chiefs could be bringing back Fisher or Schwartz, this just sounds like Reid being nice.