Chiefs safety Leon McQuay III moves closer to NFL debut

For the first time, rookie safety Leon McQuay III is a member of the Chiefs’ 53-man roster. The next step could be inclusion on the active roster for Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

If that happens, McQuay said he’s prepared. As a practice-squad member this year, McQuay has worked against some of the NFL’s best offensive players — his teammates.

“I feel like it’s pretty good work because it’s the first (team) offense,” McQuay said. “You’re getting to see real talent.”

McQuay trusts that experience will pay off if his number is called. His elevation occurred earlier this week when safety Steven Terrell was placed on injured reserve with dislocated finger that requires surgery.

The timing was terrible for Terrell, who in the Chiefs’ 26-15 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday got defensive snaps for only the second time this season and made the most of them. He collected his first career interception and he earned the high grade among all players in the Pro Football Focus analysis.

“He played a great game,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said. “We’d love to have him still going.”

On the Chiefs’ unofficial depth chart, McQuay is listed behind Ron Parker. Safety Eric Murray has been on the inactive list for the past two games while recovering from an ankle injury, but he has been practicing this week.

McQuay would become the fifth member of the 2017 draft class to see action, along with Kareem Hunt, Tanoh Kpassangnon, Ukeme Eligwe and Jehu Chesson. McQuay and Patrick Mahomes haven’t appeared in a game.

McQuay, a sixth-round selection out of Southern California, played safety and slot corner for the Trojans and came up with one of his team’s biggest plays of last season, an interception that led to a game-winning field-goal drive in the Rose Bowl.

His next highlight will be to step on an NFL field. Terrell had been a stalwart on special teams, and McQuay figures his first action would be with a coverage or return team.

“Then see where the game takes us; hopefully I’d get a chance to get in on defense,” McQuay said.

If he does, Sutton said McQuay’s work ethic will have paid off.

“He’s practiced really hard; he enjoys football about as much as anybody on our team,” Sutton said. “He has a great time at practice. He’s a very athletic guy… He has range and competitive spirit.”

The corner-to-safety transition isn’t unusual. Murray covered the same ground last year. And McQuay said the defensive backs’ meeting room has served as a support group.

“They let me know how things work and how to conduct myself,” McQuay said. “They’ve helped me out a lot.”

When he plays, McQuay will become the second man in his family to appear in the NFL. His grandfather, Leon, played one season each with the Giants, Patriots and Saints.

McQuay said he’s been ready for this opportunity.

“I wouldn’t say it’s been difficult because you can be called up at any time,” McQuay said. “You have to stay up on your stuff.”

This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Chiefs safety Leon McQuay III moves closer to NFL debut."