Chiefs

Chiefs’ Chris Conley could again get the nod as No. 2 wideout

By Terez A. Paylor

tpaylor@kcstar.com

October 09, 2015 08:47 PM

Chiefs wide receiver Chris Conley (17) made his first career catch against Packers free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) during their Sept. game in Green Bay.
Chiefs wide receiver Chris Conley (17) made his first career catch against Packers free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) during their Sept. game in Green Bay. DAVID EULITT deulitt@kcstar.com
Chiefs wide receiver Chris Conley (17) made his first career catch against Packers free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) during their Sept. game in Green Bay. DAVID EULITT deulitt@kcstar.com

Receiver Albert Wilson, who missed the Chiefs' game against the Bengals with a shoulder injury, was limited for the third straight day and is listed as questionable on Friday's injury report.

That means rookie receiver Chris Conley, started in Wilson's place Sunday and was targeted seven times and caught two passes for 53 yards including a 44-yarder from quarterback Alex Smith, could again get the starting nod this Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

“Chris is a young, talented, big receiver (with) great speed and explosion down the field, long speed,” offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said. “With any quarterback-receiver combination, the more they can work together, the better they’re going to become. It was good to see them connect on a couple of throws last week.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Conley did “some good things,” though he still has plenty to work on.

For instance, Conley dropped a pass in the first quarter, which was the first of four straight passes his way that resulted in an incompletion as he and Smith struggled to get on the same page.

“He’s a young player, so I understand that (he does) not (have) a lot of experience at this level,” Reid said. “But the one thing you’re guaranteed with Chris is he’s going to go 100 miles per hour every play. He’s a smart kid, so normally the assignments are going to be right. Then if he does make a mistake, he’s going to work that thing out and figure it out and get it right. I can handle working with that.”

Wilson only caught three passes for 25 yards as a starter in the Chiefs' first three games of the season. He was only targeted seven times in 143 snaps, a number Conley matched Sunday in only 68 snaps.

Terez A. Paylor: 816-234-4489, @TerezPaylor. Tap here to download the new Red Zone Extra app for iOS and Android devices.

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