Don’t look in the usual places for Chiefs’ top position battle at training camp
Perhaps the best position competition of Chiefs training camp is taking place away from the offensive reps and defensive drills.
Over on the other field, where the kickers and long-snapper are getting in their work here at Missouri Western, a battle for the team’s starting punter job is raging.
Matt Araiza is the incumbent, a left-footer entering his second year with the Chiefs. The challenger is rookie free agent Eddie Czaplicki, last season’s Ray Guy Award winner as the nation’s best punter at USC.
Chiefs assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub calls it the “big question.”
“It’s a good competition,” Toub said. “I think we have two NFL punters.”
But there’s room for just one on the 53-man roster. The Chiefs opened the competition after Araiza, who took over for Tommy Townsend last season, had issues in certain areas.
Araiza has a booming leg and got off a 72-yarder in 2024. But he finished 16th in the NFL with a 41.5-yard net average and 21st in percentage of punts that landed inside the 20. His nine punts that resulted in touchbacks matched the NFL’s most.
Czaplicki began his college career at Arizona State and averaged 47.8 yards per punt last season, landing 25 punts inside the 20. He also handled kickoff duties throughout his college career.
“Matt’s probably got the edge over these first few days,” Toub said. “But it’s a real competition, and obviously we’re going to get into the (preseason) games and see who prevails.
“I want to see better in the pooch (punt) area. If a team is making us punt at the 50, we want them inside the 10, or even the 5, for that matter. They need to push the envelope, especially in practice.”
Whoever emerges as the Chiefs’ punter also will be their backup kicker, Toub said. Justin Reid, a safety, filled that role for the previous three seasons.
As for the return specialists, wide receiver Nikko Remigio has looked solid. As a rookie last season, Remigio was the team’s primary kick returner with a 26.8-yard average, and also was used as a punt returner.
“Nikko just keeps getting better every day,” Toub said. “He doesn’t make mistakes. He’ll catch the ball. He’s dependable ...”
But Toub also has been impressed with rookie Brashard Smith, the seventh-round pick from SMU who led the nation in kickoff returns while playing at Miami in 2023.
“I’m excited about Brashard,” Toub said.
Speedy wide receiver Xavier Worthy also is taking reps as a return specialist, but that might not happen once the regular season arrives. The Chiefs await word from the NFL on the potential suspension of Rashee Rice, which could thin the receiver rotation and make Worthy unavailable for special teams.
“He’s that guy that can be really dynamic with his top-end speed,” Toub said.
This story was originally published July 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM.