Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes & Andy Reid complimented two young WRs this week. Here’s why
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, when asked about his team’s offensive trajectory Tuesday, described Sunday’s 27-20 road victory over the Minnesota Vikings as a “step in the positive direction.”
One of the primary reasons for that? The continued growth of KC’s inexperienced receivers.
“I thought the young guys did a good job of being in the right spot at the right time,” Mahomes said.
Two players, in particular, were instrumental for Mahomes as he extended drives.
One was rookie Rashee Rice, who made the most of his 20 snaps with four catches for 33 yards with a touchdown.
The other was second-year player Justyn Ross, who caught a crucial 20-yard catch on a second-and-17 in the first quarter. He finished with two receptions for 28 yards while logging six snaps.
“I think he’s getting better,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Ross. “The young guys seem to be getting better every day they have a chance. And so it’s just a matter of experience. There’s one way of getting that, and that’s getting tossed in there and seeing how you do.”
Rice seems to have the most direct path to additional playing time. Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said Monday that Rice had earned more snaps based on his recent play; he’s second on the Chiefs in receptions with 17 (behind only Travis Kelce) and also has the 11th-highest overall Pro Football Focus grade among all NFL receivers who have at least 12 targets this season.
“Every game, every practice, I’m looking to improve my role,” Rice said Tuesday. “I’m grateful for all opportunities that I get on the field regardless. I’m just gonna make the most of my opportunities that I get.”
Mahomes complimented Rice on Tuesday for being in the correct locations on his routes — something the QB said was essential for young receivers.
“He plays hard. He plays fast, and when he gets his opportunities, he makes the most out of them,” Mahomes said. “And so he’ll just continue to learn.”
Some of that education took place on the field against the Vikings.
On a first-and-goal from the 8-yard line in the third quarter, Mahomes threw a pass intended for Rice that sailed out of his reach in the end zone. On that play, Mahomes wanted Rice to take his route on top of a defender, which the team doesn’t explicitly tell its receivers to do in the playbook; instead, the QB hoped Rice would read the defense the same way he did.
Two plays later, Mahomes went back to Rice. He hit him in stride on a route over the middle, with Rice lowering his shoulder and powering his way into the end zone for the 8-yard score.
Mahomes said what was impressive about Rice on that sequence was that the Chiefs got a coverage look from the Vikings that they weren’t expecting.
“And he was able to still win and be there at the right spot,” Mahomes said. “So it’s just learning on the go. And that’s what you have to do as a rookie in this league, and he’s done a great job of it.”
Ross, meanwhile, knows he has to be more sure-handed. He was targeted four times against the Vikings and had two drops. For the season, his 40% on-target drop rate, according to Pro Football Focus, is one of the highest marks among all NFL wideouts.
That’s in a tiny sample size, of course, but Ross admitted Tuesday he was focusing on that aspect of his game.
“It’s obviously the drops. You can’t have those, especially in critical situations,” Ross said. “So I feel like that’s the main thing: no drops.”
Even with those miscues, Reid said he was pleased with how Ross has come along since sitting out last year following ankle surgery.
“He’s had a couple of real nice ones, and he’s got a couple he’d like to have back,” Reid said. “But hopefully, he grows from that and keeps progressing like he has been.”
