The competition among the Chiefs’ interior defensive line has been fierce throughout camp, with the unit potentially going seven deep with players who have flashed throughout the preseason.
But with the top four — Dontari Poe, Jaye Howard, Allen Bailey and rookie Chris Jones — etched in stone (and subsequently sitting out Thursday’s preseason finale against the Packers), the Chiefs got a chance to look at the three players battling for one or two remaining jobs in Nick Williams, Rakeem Nunez-Roches and David King.
All three fared well against the Packers, but Williams flashed the most, racking up a team-high five tackles with two sacks.
“He had a couple of real nice rushes,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Williams. “I thought he did a good job. Changed the direction back there. You saw early, that quarterback was slithery, tough to bring down. He was able to get himself down nice and low and show that change of direction.”
Williams, a reserve last season, said he wanted to show what he could do with extended playing time.
“I just wanted to come out here, have a good game,” Williams said. “It’s a testament to my coaches leaving me in this game, just to (let) me set up and show them I’m that next guy.
“I just felt like I had to have a good game and I had it.”
Terez A. Paylor: 816-234-4489, @TerezPaylor. Download Red Zone Extra, The Star's Chiefs app.
Comments