KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz said Wednesday on social media that he is hoping for a healthy 2021 season after undergoing surgery for a back injury that prematurely ended his season in 2020.
Schwartz also posted a photo of himself in a hospital gown, cap and face mask, smiling and with his thumb up, apparently awaiting the surgery.
Schwartz, a 2018 first-team All-Pro, had never missed a snap from the start of his career in 2012 with the Cleveland Browns until 2019, after he had joined the Chiefs. He also didn’t miss a start in 2019.
But his streak of 134 consecutive regular-season starts ended this past season. He left the Chiefs’ Week 6 game against the Buffalo Bills with a back injury and didn’t return the rest of the season, not even to practice.
Schwartz, 31, indicated in the Instagram post that he was anticipating the start of a new streak next season.
“Looking forward to a healthy 2021!” he wrote.