Forget about the score. Here are 5 things that matter in the Chiefs’ preseason games
The most compelling question of NFL preseason games — and that isn’t exactly a high bar, keep in mind — is whether to play the quarterback. A growing trend to sit them out might slightly reverse course this month, given the number of first-year starters or veterans who have joined new teams or new coaches.
There’s a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t narrative around the conversation — the risk of playing is injury, obviously, but those who sat a year ago didn’t exactly fare well in the opening week of the season.
The latter has swayed Andy Reid. He’s never left any doubt about whether his starters will play in August — only how much time they might see. (If we’re judging on the past couple of seasons, expect maybe one series from Patrick Mahomes on Sunday in New Orleans.)
It’s not that Reid believes the result matters, but there are undeniably some things within the preseason that do matter — and some particular things to keep an eye on over the Chiefs’ three exhibition games.
Such as?
1. Wide receiver
We’ll track the performances, to be sure, but what’s most intriguing is which players see the most snaps with Mahomes, which play primarily with Blaine Gabbert and which are playing mostly after halftime.
That’s true of every position, but the receivers have generated a ton of the attention during camp.
The group has a rare blend of questions at the top, yet quality depth at the bottom. While it would be beneficial for Skyy Moore to continue his momentum into the regular season, a few others need to have a standout performance (or two) to feel comfortable about making the team.
And, no, not all of them can make it. It’s never made sense to me to keep seven receivers. Andy Reid has never kept more than six during his 10 years in Kansas City, and he kept only five out of camp each of the past two years.
This is a talented group in terms of its depth, and I understand not wanting to part with talent that other teams might scoop up, but that can’t be the primary reason for stretching the balance of your roster out of whack.
In any event, those jobs will be won in the preseason — and we’ll take our cues on which players own the leg up based on the timing of their snaps.
My guess as it stands today? It’s Justyn Ross that has the most work to do.
2. Special teams
I can’t think of many NFL plays more boring than a preseason punt, but there’s a reason to pay attention. There’s a lot to learn from how the Chiefs line up.
They prioritize special teams roles as much as any team in the league — and more than any team should, if we’re being honest.
Don’t get me wrong; special teams can be enough to swing a game, and those who invest more time in their intricacies are probably the best performers, even if the Chiefs were an exception last year. But the Chiefs make roster decisions based on these roles alone sometimes. The first-team gunners on a punt are usually able to lock down spots, and with Nazeeh Johnson out for the season, there’s some playing time up for grabs there.
So when you’re paying attention to the first item on this list — assessing which receivers will survive the cut — consider which are offered an opportunity to impress on special teams over the three games. That matters. More than you might think.
And take this into account: The return duties will likely fall to Richie James (punt) and running back Deneric Prince (kickoff).
3. Depth chart position battles
The Chiefs will have more than 20 practices in St. Joseph, then another dozen or so in Kansas City, but nothing is quite the same as game action.
It’s weighed accordingly.
Linebacker Darius Harris and running back Ronald Jones won jobs last season because of their performance in the final game of the preseason. Mattered quite a bit to those guys.
Jones, in fact, had a really underwhelming camp, but he turned eight carries into 43 yards in the finale, and he suddenly had a spot on the team. Harris made a couple of plays in the same game, including a tackle for a loss, and he too was on the right side of the bubble.
Which battles will be determined this preseason?
You’d have to think the Chiefs are still assessing what they have at cornerback. Ekow Boye-Doe, an undrafted tryout from Kansas State, has been the surprise of camp, but his size leaves some questions.
Most of the questions, though, fall not within the position groups but rather how many from each position the Chiefs are looking to keep. They’ve toggled between four and five safeties, for example, which this year could be the difference in Deon Bush or Mike Edwards battling for one spot or securing two. The same at cornerback. I’ve already mentioned receiver. And the same on the offensive and defensive lines.
Speaking of which...
4. Defensive line
To put it bluntly, the Chiefs need some help on the defensive line, and it’s looking more and more like that help will need to be internal improvement. That’s not just because Chris Jones is continuing his holdout, either — it still makes sense for Jones to arrive when the team returns to Kansas City, if not shortly thereafter.
Charles Omenihu is suspended for six games, more than the team had anticipated when they signed him in the offseason. That leaves the Chiefs thin on the edges and the interior of the line.
If you’re the optimistic type, well, the Chiefs do have some youth there, offering a reasonable expectation that someone could take a step forward over the next month.
It would be more than a luxury.
It’s a need.
Just take a look at the edge. Without Omenihu, that leaves George Karlaftis and Mike Danna as pretty obvious starters for the initial six weeks. But then what? First-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah has come on slowly, and fifth-rounder BJ Thompson was always going to be more of a project who scored well athletically ahead of the draft. Malik Herring and Joshua Kaindoh are options, but they’ve certainly had their chances to separate themselves in the past.
But there is another option...
5. The rest of the NFL
As much as Kansas City will have its attention on the Chiefs, the front office will split its attention between its own team and the other 31.
While familiarity with the team you follow can offer the appearance of a lot of options on the depth chart, there are some spots where the Chiefs are not all that deep.
Like that aforementioned defensive line.
As the preseason progresses, keep in mind the Chiefs’ surpluses — wide receiver? running back? — as potential fits to match up a small trade with teams that are strong elsewhere.
Well, seemingly small. The Chiefs have made plenty of these types of deals over the years, and once turned one of them into a starting cornerback with Charvarius Ward.
It’s one more way to improve during the preseason.
And therefore one more thing that might matter this month — even if this win-loss record does not.
This story was originally published August 11, 2023 at 6:00 AM.