Chiefs’ Knile Davis named AFC special teams player of the week

Knile Davis' 99-yard touchdown return to open the second half Sunday helped bust the Chiefs' 34-7 win over the Rams wide open.

Because of that, he's been named AFC special teams player of the week.

“It's a great tribute to him, (special teams coach Dave) Toub and the guys that were blocking for him, all the way around,” Chiefs football coach Andy Reid said.

It's the first time Davis has won the award, though he also returned a 108-yard kickoff for a touchdown last season against Denver.

Not bad for a second-year NFL player who never returned kicks in college.

“That was really Dave's idea after he saw him run around a little bit,” Reid said of the decision to make him a kick return. “With kick return, it's important that you see it and you hit it. You're not dancing in the hole. You see daylight and hit it hard and aggressive and he does that.”

Reid said Davis' return ability is unique because of his size (5 feet 11 and 227 pounds), and praised him for improving his ball security, which was a problem in college.

“He blessed with great speed along with that size and he's taken great pride in this,” Reid said. “It's not been an overnight thing for him. He's taken a massive amount of reps to be able to secure the football when it's kicked and be consistent with that and my hat's off to him. Nobody works harder than Knile.”

Chiefs player reps take role seriously

When the players voted quarterback Chase Daniel, defensive end Kevin Vickerson and receiver Dwayne Bowe as their NFLPA player reps last week, they gave those three the responsibility of upholding their rights and helping to enforce the union’s collective-bargaining agreement with the NFL.

It's a responsibility they take seriously.

“It means a lot,” Daniel said. “Anytime guys trust you with having their best interest at heart in all aspects of things, whether it be the drug policy or player safety and health, it means a lot. I think it's one of the many ways I can contribute to the team.”

Vickerson, a ninth-year pro who joined the team a little over the month ago, said he's always tried to lead by example.

“I guess the guys see me as a leader, an older guy,” Vickerson said. “I was just being me, man. I don't know how to do anything else. This is Vick. I'm not trying to step on any toes or anything like that. I's just trying to give advice to the guys. If I can help, I can help.”

Chiefs showing support for Royals

Chiefs guard Jeff Allen showed up in the locker room Wednesday with a bag full of blue Royals caps. He proceeded to distribute them to every offensive lineman and wish the Royals the best during game seven.

“Just to show support,” Allen said. “They're doing something special around the city, and to see that momentum ... they caught fire in the playoffs, and it's something that's awesome.”

This story was originally published October 29, 2014 at 2:09 PM with the headline "Chiefs’ Knile Davis named AFC special teams player of the week."