Football finally returns on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs play the New Orleans Saints down at the Bayou as part of the NFL’s first slate of preseason scrimmages. Since winning Super Bowl 57 last February, there’s plenty to talk about what has happened on One Arrowhead Drive over the offseason and training camp as the Chiefs prepare for what will hopefully be another year they will reign as NFL champions.
Here are five things to watch when the Chiefs take the field.
Deneric Price
One player that has grabbed people’s attention at training camp has been running back Denaric Prince, with his explosiveness as a ball carrier coming out of the backfield and as a return man on special teams. Dave Toub even said Prince had done well enough that he could be Kansas City’s starting return specialist. Watching the Tulsa product in a live game will be the first opportunity for coaches and fans to see what he brings to the table and if he can get a step closer to securing a roster spot this fall.
Justyn Ross
Quite possibly, one of the most exciting unknowns on the Chiefs’ 90-man roster right now is wide receiver Justyn Ross. The former undrafted rookie was a sensation as a freshman at Clemson during the National Championship but has not seen the field in two years due to injuries. Still, Ross has made some highlight plays during training camp, and the excitement that surrounds him is almost uncontrollable as fans are clamoring to see what Ross can do for the offense and if his injury troubles are behind him.
O-Tackles
Kansas City will introduce two brand-new offensive tackles on Sunday left tackle Donovan Smith and right tackle Jawaan Taylor. Both are replacing veterans Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie, who departed in free agency. Smith was a solid blocker for Tampa Bay when protecting Tom Brady but is coming off of a down year. The hope is that he returns to his 2021 form and gives the Chiefs confidence that he can protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side.
Taylor was arguably Kansas City’s biggest splash in free agency, and it’s always exciting to see the newest additions finally in action. The critical thing to watch will be how in sync the 26-year-old veteran is with the rest of the offensive line. If all five starters run like a well-oiled machine up front, the rest of that high-powered offense will be a force to reckon with.
D-line
How good will Kansas City be along the defensive line without Chris Jones? We’ll have an actual answer on Sunday. Jones’ offseason holdout has been lengthy due to the two sides not seeing eye-to-eye on an impending contract extension. Jones’ absence means the Chiefs will give out plenty of snaps to various backup players looking to earn a roster spot. Daniel Wise, Danny Shelton, Keondre Coburn, and Phil Hoskins are just a few defensive tackles that will see a fair share of playing time and will be jocking for position on the depth chart. It’ll be exciting to see who’ll seize the opportunity and emerge as a Week 1 starter if Jones remains unavailable.
No Fullback
Head coach Andy Reid is rolling without a designated fullback on the roster for the first time in his Chiefs tenor. Reid told reporters that he’d rely on the tight ends to fill in at the position, which means he’ll likely use more multi-tight end sets – the 65-year-old’s favorite offensive formation. The last time Kansas City didn’t have a fullback on the roster was the 2012 season during the brief Romeo Crennel era that watched the Chiefs experience the franchise’s worst season ever. This year should be different, however, as Reid has a plan for how he’ll run the offense without a true lead blocker. Look for guys who typically wouldn’t earn a roster spot to find a role that will allow them to contribute and potentially make the team. Players like tight end Matt Bushman and Kendall Gatherings come to mind. Blake Bell could also fit right in as Kansas City’s lead blocker.
