Chiefs have an ‘impressive big guy’ in Jody Fortson, who is coming on with big plays
Chiefs wide receiver Jody Fortson is hard to miss.
For starters, Fortson is listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, which makes him a physical specimen that even defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo can’t ignore.
“Oh, I know it’s him because he’s so big,” Spagnuolo said with a chuckle. “I’m always talking to him about playing defensive end. We joke about that all the time. He came up to me the other day and said, ‘I’m ready to play D-end.’ I said, ‘I got to see you tackle first.’ So, I give him a little razzing on that. … He’s an impressive big guy.”
There’s more to Forston than his frame, of course, and it’s been easy to see his talent and athleticism since the Chiefs kicked off training camp in full pads two weeks ago.
After spending the 2019 season on the Chiefs’ practice squad, he’s driven to crack the roster this fall. He told The Star during media week at the Super Bowl that he is highly motivated to make the 53-player roster in 2020.
So, how did he go about attacking his personal and professional goal during the offseason?
“I just took the advice of all the great vets we have on the team from Sammy (Watkins) to Mecole (Hardman) and D-Rob (Demarcus Robinson), even Chris Jones and Tyrann Mathieu on the defensive side.” Fortson said after Monday’s practice. “I just took everything they gave me throughout last season and try to implement it into this offseason for myself.”
Whatever secret formula those teammates provided Fortson appears to be working.
On virtually a daily basis during one-on-one or team drills since padded practices started, Fortson has made difficult catches look routine, including Sunday’s incredible leaping one-handed grab over Mathieu. The two-time All-Pro safety gave Fortson his due Monday morning by tweeting: “Proud of that kid! He(’s) getting better & tougher!”
Chalk it up as another day at the office for Fortson, or in this instance the football field. He said he’s embraced going against the defensive backs during practice, especially Mathieu.
“A lot of people don’t really know this, but in high school I actually wore No. 7 because of Tyrann,” Fortson said of Mathieu’s jersey number at LSU. “He’s actually been like the best defensive player I’ve ever seen to be honest with you. He’s a great leader on and off the field.
“Every practice or before practice in the locker room, I’m trying to get advice on how to be better. For him to kind of give me a shout out on Twitter to the world, I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s just extraordinary.”
Fortson has also shown that he’s more than a pass catcher. On Monday he made a block down the field that sprung running back Darwin Thompson for a touchdown. After the play, approving cheers of, “There you go, Jody!” rang from the sidelines.
Seeing Fortson making plays at wide receiver is a much different vision than the one the Chiefs originally had planned when they signed him in 2019 as an undrafted free agent tight end out of Valdosta State.
The change back to his natural position — and advice from those around him — has paid off in new ways.
“He feels more comfortable out there and he’s learning,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “This is new as of last year for him and we started him off as a tight end if you remember and now we’ve moved him out to wide receiver, so every rep is a great rep for him.”
Fortson agreed.
“I feel more prepared just from the system,” he said. “Another year in the same system with the same coaches, getting more detailed into the playbook, into the routes and learning how to maneuver with the players around me. So I definitely feel more comfortable, but there’s still a lot to be learned and I’m still working.”
He’s facing a tough battle given that the Chiefs returned all five of their wide receivers from last season: Tyreek Hill, Watkins, Hardman, Robinson and Byron Pringle.
But with the experience of 2019 under his belt combined with more head-turning plays for the rest of training camp, the 24-year-old Fortson could make the case that he belongs in the discussion.
“I just come out every day just ready to attack and get better,” he said.
PARTICIPATION REPORT
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who missed three days of practice with a hamstring injury, was on the field in pads. The Chiefs limited Hill to stretching and conditioning, and he didn’t participate in team drills Monday.
Linebacker Damien Wilson, who also missed time for undisclosed reasons, was back on the field and participated during stretching and conditioning.
Offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele (shoulder), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (ankle, rest), rookie defensive end Mike Danna (calf), defensive end Alex Okafor (calf), rookie wide receiver Maurice Ffrench (knee), tight end Deon Yelder (groin), safety Armani Watts (illness) and defensive tackle Braxton Hoyett (shoulder) did not practice.
Offensive lineman Martinas Rankin (knee) remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and worked off to the side with a trainer.
The Chiefs announced the following players left Monday’s practice with injuries: wide receiver Gehrig Dieter (groin), offensive lineman Yasir Durant (head) and linebacker Emmanuel Smith (hamstring).
GOALS TO BE ELITE
Everyone knows about the Chiefs’ explosive offense, which is filled with a cast of superstars led by Mahomes.
By the time the 2020 season rolls around, defensive tackle Jones hopes people will know the other side of the football is elite, too, because of the group they practice against on a daily basis.
“Day in and day out competing with one of the best offenses in the league,” Jones said. “When we’re able to go on that field and compete with those guys, I mean, the sky’s the limit for us. With all the weapons they have and that dynamic offense, they’re able to score at any time in a game. So, competing with those guys is elevating us as a defense.”
Jones has a point ... and signs are pointing to a positive outcome this fall. After a sluggish start to the 2019 regular season, the Chiefs’ defense came to life in Spagnuolo’s newly installed 4-3 base scheme.
In the final six games of the regular season, Jones and his defensive teammates allowed an average of just 11.5 points per game, a stretch that also included not allowing an opponent to top 100 yards rushing.
Going against Mahomes and Co. should carry over well this autumn.
OBSERVATIONS
The NFL’s and Chiefs’ media rules during training camp without fans in attendance — fans cannot attend this year because of the pandemic with the exception of the Chiefs’ two season ticket holder events — 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:
• Free safety Juan Thornhill got in work during nine-on-seven drills, a step up from Sunday’s seven-on-seven drills. During one of the drills, Thornhill made a diving pass breakup in the end zone and received cheers from his defensive teammates. Mathieu was the first player to go over and congratulate Thornhill on the play. The Chiefs have continued to ramp up Thornhill’s workload in practice since activating him from the PUP list last week. The second-year pro is returning from an anterior cruciate ligament tear he suffered in the regular-season finale.
• Rookie cornerback L’Jarius Sneed produced an interception Sunday off quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and followed up Monday with an excellent pass breakup in the end zone against wide receiver Mecole Hardman. Mahomes lofted a pass to the corner, and it appeared as if Hardman would come down with the ball. Sneed quickly closed the gap and got his hands up at the last second to alter the ball’s trajectory. For his efforts, Sneed received an enthusiastic “Good job, 38!” from his defensive teammates.
• If at first you don’t succeed, try again. That approach worked perfectly for wide receiver Bryon Pringle, who dropped what should’ve been a touchdown pass from quarterback Chad Henne during team drills. On the very next play, Henne went right back to Pringle in the right corner of the end zone and the former Kansas State star made an over-the-shoulder catch for the score.
• Tight end Nick Keizer showed Monday how he could become a perfect complement to Travis Kelce in the Chiefs’ two-tight sets if he opens the season second on the depth chart. During team drills, Keizer made an impressive inside block on defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon to open a gaping hole for running back Darrel Williams, who scored a touchdown. Keizer came off the snap and positioned himself perfectly to seal off Kpassagnon.
This story was originally published August 24, 2020 at 4:17 PM.
