KANSAS CITY, Missouri – There aren’t many real position battles or hard-fought roster battles for the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs.
That’s not a bad thing, but it also makes the preseason a time to be prepared for injuries.
Some of the replacements cut when the Chiefs trim their roster to 53 players in 10 days – the NFL deadline is Aug. 27 at 3 p.m. Central Time – may end up on other NFL teams, but most will return to the practice squad and still play a role in the fight for a third straight win.
But here are a few storylines worth keeping an eye on Saturday when Kansas City hosts the reigning NFC runner-up Detroit Lions in the second preseason game:
1. Can the Chiefs avoid injuries?
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he plans to use his regular players for one half against the Lions, but how much will his key players actually play?
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, running back Isiah Pacheco and others probably don’t need the field to be fit for the opening game on September 5 against Baltimore.
But Kansas City would be in trouble if any of those three – or a handful of other players – were to miss a long-term injury.
After watching wide receiver Hollywood Brown get injured on the first snap of the offensive line last week in Jacksonville, no one would blame Reid if the starters didn’t quite make it to halftime.
It will be interesting to see how first-round pick Xavier Worthy fares in what is expected to be a more extensive game.
He, Brown, Rashee Rice, Justin Watson – and, in my opinion, Mecole Hardman Jr. – have secured a spot on the roster for next season, but there’s also plenty of competition for the sixth and maybe even seventh receiver spot, depending on how quickly Brown recovers from his sternoclavicular joint dislocation last week.
It will be up to Justyn Ross, Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, Nikki Remigio and Montrell Washington to make enough of an impression with strong performances against Detroit and Chicago in the final two preseason games to secure a spot on the roster.
2. Niang’s willingness
Lucas Niang had to take a break in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was back as a starter in 2021.
It’s easy to forget, but Niang, a former third-round pick out of TCU, took over the right tackle position midway through his first NFL season and started nine games.
A knee injury in Week 17 ended his season and he missed most of 2022 on the injured list.
By the time he was healthy again, Kansas City had paid Jawaan Taylor handsomely for the right tackle position and Niang was reduced to a backup role.
Taylor’s injury, which is not expected to be long-term but will keep him out of the game against Detroit, offers Niang a chance to cement his place in the roster.
Wanya Morris battled with rookie Kingsley Suamatia for the left tackle position during training camp, but also struggled with injuries.
The Chiefs need someone to establish themselves as a backup swing tackle, so it will be worth watching how Niang fares against a spirited Lions pass rush.
3. Who is the No. 2 cornerback?
Trent McDuffie is clearly Kansas City’s best cornerback after the offseason trade of L’Jarius Sneed, but no one has yet secured the second spot.
Jaylen Watson will not play as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury, and Joshua Williams will look to rebound from his mixed performance against the Jaguars.
Nazeeh Johnson, also in contention at cornerback, missed the opening game of the preseason as he continues to work on his recovery from a torn ACL he suffered in training camp last season.
4. Battle of the Kick Returners
Wide receiver Nikko Remigio remains atop the kick returner rankings, but his spot on the roster is not yet secure. He will need to impress against Detroit and Chicago – and when training camp returns to the team’s facility – to make the initial 53-man roster.
Hardman is a known quantity and can easily be used as a second man in depth, but Deneric Prince and Louis Rees-Zammit, who are considered possible candidates for a fourth running back spot, could underline their position with impressive performances in the return game.
5. Rotational DL pieces
Chris Jones and Tershawn Wharton will likely start alongside George Karlaftis and Mike Danna, with Charles Omenihu still on the physically unable to perform list at the start of the season.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Mike Pennel, along with productive veterans Derrick Nnadi and Malik Herring, have emerged as the best backups at those positions, but Neil Farrell Jr., Matt Dickerson and Truman Jones could use some spectacular plays – even if they are on special teams in Jones’ case – to earn a spot on the roster.
—
