Tanoh Kpassagnon eager to take big step in career during contract season with Chiefs
After being taken in the second round of the 2017 draft, Chiefs’ defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon had lofty expectations upon entering the NFL.
His first two seasons in the league produced very little playing time, but he took a big step forward in 2019 and was a key cog in the Chiefs’ defense down the stretch last season.
With another year in Kansas City under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnoulo ahead, Kpassagnon will look to carry continue improving this fall during a contract year.
“Any time you can get a lot of competition at one spot, that’s good for us,” Spagnoulo said. “We’ll see how it all shakes out. TK was key for us last year… So we’ll just keep them all in the mix. It’s nice to have those numbers.”
Kpassagnon certainly has his competition cut out for him against Breeland Speaks, the Chiefs’ second-round pick in 2018, and Taco Charlton, a first-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2017 who’s looking to jump-start his own career in KC.
In his first two seasons as a pro, Kpassagnon played 158 and 115 snaps, respectively — 13% and 10% of the team’s total defensive snaps — as the Chiefs’ tried to turn him into a linebacker in their previous scheme. One bright spot from that time, Kpassagnon said, was learning a variety of new moves and stances.
When Spagnoulo took over as defensive coordinator in 2019, Kpassagnon moved to defensive end — the position he played in college. Back in his natural spot, Kpassagnon started eight games and took 62% of the team’s snaps in his third season. And in the playoffs, the team relied on him even more: He saw 80% of the team’s snaps in each of the Chiefs’ postseason games, including the Super Bowl.
In the AFC Championship Game against the Tennessee Titans, he recorded two sacks to help the Chiefs advance to the Super Bowl.
“Making those key sacks or those key plays and then being able to play in a Super Bowl, being able to win a Super Bowl just boosts my confidence and boosts our whole team’s confidence,” he said. “We know what we are and we know exactly what we need to do to do it again.”
During this year’s unorthodox NFL offseason, Kpassagnon said he did some self-scouting to improve little aspects in his game. He’s also had the benefit of not having to worry about learning a new playbook. He understands Spagnoulo’s scheme even more now.
“Year two in this defense, you get a lot more comfortable,” Kpassagnon said. “You know why Coach Spags is calling something in a certain situation — that continuity, that synergy, that we all come together as one.”
Kpassagnon is determined to make an impression in his fourth season as he reaches the end of his rookie contract. Among defensive ends drafted in the 2017 class, only Myles Garrett has gotten a new contract— and that was expected, as he’d been the No. 1 overall selection that year. With six sacks, Kpassagnon is tied for sixth in career sacks among defensive ends from that year’s draft class.
Having posted career highs in starts, tackles, tackles for loss and sacks last season, Kpassagnon appears to be headed in the right direction statistically. But he’s still got a lot to prove this season.
“I’ve always been playing to impress everybody,” Kpassagnon said. “I play for myself, I play for my mom, I play for everybody back home. I work hard every day and I kind of let the other stuff work itself out, you know?”
PARTICIPATION REPORT
The Chiefs’ depth at tight end will be tested ahead of the regular season.
Ricky Seals-Jones, who signed a one-year deal during free agency, went down with a leg injury Monday and was carted off the field. His injury carries significance because Deon Yelder (groin) has yet to hit the field since the team began padded practices four days ago.
The Chiefs claimed Daniel Helm off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers, but their tight end corps is now down to Helm, star starter Travis Kelce and Nick Keizer as healthy options.
Also Monday, defensive tackle Chris Jones (groin) missed his third straight day of practice, while wide receivers Sammy Watkins (groin) and Byron Pringle (hamstring) each missed their second consecutive day. Left tackle Eric Fisher, who suffered a concussion Sunday, was absent and remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol system.
Safety Juan Thornhill (knee) and Martinas Rankin (knee) remain on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and worked with a trainer Monday, as did cornerbacks Antonio Hamilton (groin) and Lavert Hill (hamstring).
Linebacker Darius Harris remained absent after being excused for personal reasons last week.
The Chiefs had some good news on the injury front as defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (ankle) returned to the field for the first time since the pads came on. Defensive tackle Devaroe Lawrence was also present after being excused for personal reasons the previous three days.
Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, dehydrated Sunday, returned to practice in full.
OBSERVATIONS
The NFL’s and Chiefs’ media rules during training camp without fans in attendance — fans cannot attend this year because of the pandemic — prohibit the reporting of personnel groupings (first- or second- or third-team units), specific formations/alignments, trick plays, situational plays and statistics.
Still allowed, however, are general observations about head-turning and notable plays:
• The Chiefs put in a fast-paced and short workout Monday morning with 10-10-10 team sessions: 10 minutes each of first-team offense against second-team defense, second-team offense against first-team defense and special teams drills. The players went through the reps in shells, a break from the full pads of the past three days. The Chiefs are off Tuesday before returning to practice Thursday.
• Even with the abbreviated practice, quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to sling the ball all over the field. He got in numerous deep throws Monday, connecting deep with wide receivers Mecole Hardman and Gehrig Deiter, who looked sharp for the second straight day.
• Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, whom the Chiefs signed during the offseason after his short stint with the XFL, received his first significant snaps of training camp. Ta’amu threw with accuracy and velocity. His most impressive throw was a deep pass that split the safeties and connected with undrafted free agent receiver Maurice French.
The Star’s Herbie Teope contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 3:17 PM.