Chiefs PSG#1: Champions Add Champs

Laddie Morse

The Kansas City Chiefs may not have won their first preseason game, but they had players who came out on top. Yes, they had the injury bug-a-boo hit them, and hit hard, but this team is resilient and will make the best of a bad situation no matter what happens. Many writers are focusing on the “winner-and-losers” in this game for the Chiefs… however, it’s too negative for me to focus on the losers at all, so let’s jump into the winner’s circle… the players the Chiefs saw step up and add their names to the one’s who might be making the 53-man roster. Those who will still be playing following the final cut down in a few weeks.

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TE Jared Wiley

Wiley was a 4th round pick of the Chiefs this year. He was 131 overall and a broad jump of 9 ft. and 8 inches (measures explosion). Wiley had two receptions in this game for just 5 yards total, but it was clear that he looked the part.

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I know it seems I’m focusing on the negative, but Andy Reid said in his presser following the Game,

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“Wiley… I thought he did a pretty good job in there.”

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RB, Carson Steele

Carson Steele had perhaps the play of the game for the Chiefs:

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Steele also scored a TD on a one-yard burst up the middle of the field (0:08):

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The Chiefs haven’t had success up the middle of the field near the goal line in years. Steele could give them that ability. So could Carson Wentz with a QB sneak. Many have been expecting that play to return to the playbook as well. We do know that Andy Reid doesn’t like to have his hands tied… meaning… he doesn’t like to be predictable. So, we’ll see.

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WR, Justyn Ross

Justyn Ross was a Training Camp marvel last year then faded once the regular season began. In 2023 Ross spent time on the NFL Commissioner’s Exempt list and had the hamstring injury listing attached to his name. Ross is back this year and made perhaps the most sensational catch while toe-tapping to get both feet in along the sideline, for a 23-yard catch (0:07):

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Many Chiefs Kingdom fans are regretting jumping off of the Ross Bandwagon:

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Will Justyn Ross make the Chiefs final 53-man roster? That is the question. His skillset doesn’t appear to line up with the Chiefs. HIs ability to rise up and catch a ball along the sidelines and at the back of the end zone would appear to be invaluable. That is, if you want to depend on a WR going up and making that play. Andy Reid has shown a propensity for designing a play that he can count on. A jump ball is not one of those plays. So, will Ross make the 53? It’s anyone’s call at this point, but I’m not betting on it.

In a piece by Greg Florkowski that he wrote in June for ArrowheadAddict called, “Justyn Ross’ extensive injury history clouds future projections” he says:

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“Ross has faced a long journey back to this point

with the Chiefs as a player hoping to make the

active roster, a journey marked by the resiliency

of having overcome myriad injuries. But those

same injuries also make it difficult to project

how he might hold up in a sport so physical.”

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Greg Florkowski nails it.

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DB, Jaden Hicks

Jaden Hicks has already been called the steal of the Draft. He was taken in the 4th round with the 133rd pick overall but has not only garnered attention for DC Steve Spagnuolo but gotten in on some big pays in Training Camp and Preseason Game One. Here’s one of those plays (0:14):

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The Chiefs may have lost their first preseason game to the Jags, 13-to-26, but there were several positive takeaways. What do you think?

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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