Chiefs rookie WR has had strong camp. Andy Reid says one part stood out most
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said what one might’ve expected at the beginning.
When asked about rookie receiver Jalen Royals on Sunday, Reid began by praising him for his reliable hands and also the strength that allows him to be a weapon in the middle of the field.
Reid then paused briefly, though, transitioning to a recent development that might be most encouraging for the Chiefs’ fourth-round selection.
“Looks like the quarterbacks trust him. That’s a big part of it,” Reid said. “As you watch, you see who the quarterbacks are going to, and there’s a certain trust that they’re developing here in that kid. So that kind of speaks for itself.”
Royals, a 6 foot, 195-pound wideout from Utah State, perhaps couldn’t have asked for any better compliment as he positions himself for a potential early role with the Chiefs.
The Chiefs’ offense is unique in that it doesn’t just rely on receiver routes that are written in the playbook. Things can shift in the moment, with coaches — and even quarterback Patrick Mahomes — demanding that players react to the defense while altering and adjusting to variables they didn’t know before the snap.
All this allows for Mahomes to create a symmetry with someone like tight end Travis Kelce when they see the game the same way. Defenses might cover up the Chiefs to start, but can they adapt to the Chiefs’ real-time changes?
So often, Mahomes and Kelce have linked up based on their own feel for the game, which allows the Chiefs to operate like a rhythmic pick-and-roll in basketball.
That connection, however, takes some time to develop. And it’s why Reid’s words about Royals have to be considered a positive sign, with Mahomes seemingly putting some early belief in his young teammate.
“In the meeting room, he tells me everything I need to do,” Royals said of Mahomes. “And then off the meetings and stuff like that, while I’m just out here, he’ll tell me corrections and stuff like that.”
One example? Royals said a few practices ago he was supposed to run an out route, but he didn’t execute it the exact way Mahomes wanted.
The QB pulled him to the side and explained his thinking. Two days later, Royals got the same playcall ... then ran his route the way Mahomes had requested in their earlier chat.
“I’m still a rookie at the end of day, so I’m trying to learn everything. And he’s wanting me to be up to speed,” Royals said of Mahomes. “It’s just balancing that.”
The reality? KC might need Royals to produce early because of its specific circumstances.
Rashee Rice projects as the Chiefs’ top receiver, but he’s also likely to be suspended by the NFL soon for his role in a 2024 Dallas road-racing crash.
Chiefs coaches have often compared Royals’ skill set to Rice’s, meaning it would make most sense for Royals to step into Rice’s “power slot” receiver role if he does miss time.
While Royals feels like he’s done well at camp, he also understands there’s further to go before the Chiefs open their season Sept. 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Everything’s a lot faster, quicker decisions. Defense is a lot different than college,” Royals said. “And just getting up to speed with that, it’s probably the biggest transition.”
This story was originally published August 3, 2025 at 3:33 PM.
