David Bell
The Chiefs closed training camp and have returned to Kansas City. They did a basic walk-through on Thursday, and any other work to be done is game & roster prep the rest of the way to Saturday in the desert.
What to Expect From Further Sorting of Players
By August 30th, only 10 days away, the Chiefs will have played another Preseason football game. Andy Reid and his coaching staff will make the final roster choices by that date.
What Position Battles Remain?
The Offensive Line
Since Nick Allegretti’s shoulder injury was not serious, I see him as the depth player for all three inside positions. The question that remains is will Andy Heck want to retain Austin Reiter as the #2 Center? I can’t answer that question, but I will note that Reiter has been a starter at Center and a depth backup for the IOL, and he was on the PS in 2022. I choose Nick Allegretti as the #2 Center behind starter Creed Humphrey. Add to this: the Chiefs have moved Darian Kinnard to an inside role. Of course, Joe Thuney will be the starting LOG, with Trey Smith slotted for the ROG. The Book-end OTs are Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor – 7 players.
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A Premier IOL(Smith, Humphrey&Thuney)
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Andys’ Heck and Reid are looking to Wanya Morris as the Swing Tackle, but the possibility of using Lucas Niang for that role exists (Niang was a 2020 3rd round draft pick). Adding Morris and Niang makes the tally result with nine players for the OL. Wanya Morris has grown in stature since training camp opened, but I have been big on Lucas Niang all along. I will admit his sitting out the pandemic season was not wise for the newcomer. He then earned the Starting ROT position but was injured and knocked out of that role. The Chiefs may have moved on with Jawaan Taylor, which might mean that Niang is a good candidate for a trade.
In the second Post-Season Game, the Offensive Line came to life and played nearly outstanding football – even with the Twos in the game as well as later.
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Wanya Morris at Presser – Chiefs.com image
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Is there a battle for the OT position? Probably not. It comes down to Andy Heck and Andy Reid and their view of Lucas Niang. Prince Tega Wanogho, Mike Caliendo, and probably Jason Godrick are in the mix.
There is very excellent Depth for the OL. Brett Veach could also use an OT to entice a trade to strengthen another position. Ending idea: Godrick and Caliendo would go to the PS (or something like that, anyway). Jerome Carvin nor Sebastian Gutierrez haven’t caught enough attention to worry about, nor has Anderson Hardy(OC #4).
From my perspective, Austin Reiter is a depth player and hasn’t distinguished himself as an OG or OC, so I think Nick Allegretti is far more accomplished for all IOL positions. Consequently, Reiter will likely end up on the Practice Squad.
I think the OL position players are more important to retain to the active roster, so Morris, Niang, and maybe even Tega Wanogho are keepers. Darian Kinnard looked good on Saturday night too.
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Wide Receivers
I don’t think there is much doubt about six WRs. There was a lot to impress the Chiefs fans about this group Saturday Night. Rashee Rice really showed out. Daniel Harms commented about the WR Corps last night and I couldn’t agree more:
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I now wonder if the Chiefs will put Nikko Remigio on the IR. I view these seven players as locks:
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- Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Skyy Moore
- Rashee Rice
- Justin Watson
- Kadarius Toney
- Justyn Ross
- Richie James
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What’s Left? The 8th man is where competition comes in: Cornell Powell or Ihmir Smith-Marsette (who had a great game). With Remigio likely out for weeks one and two, that fact may give Ihmir a leg up due to his special teams’ ability. However, Powell was a draft pick. I haven’t heard WR Coach Connor Embree making statements about either player. S/T coach Dave Toub may lobby for Smith-Marsette. There is considerable Depth in the WR group. The remaining players will be placed on the PS.
Editor’s Note: I think this is the deepest group of WRs the Chiefs have ever had. –Laddie
QBs, TEs
If there are questions, one might be who is the #2 QB: Buechele or Gabbert? Beyond that, any question revolves around a 3rd QB on the Active Roster. I was reasonably sure up until Saturday Night that it would be Gabbert. I am less sure about this today. If Andy Reid chooses this, Shane Buechele will be the 3rd QB, but I project Reid will go with two since. A third QB can enter the game without being on the active list due to the new NFL Rule about injury emergencies to QBs.
As the Chiefs often deploy 3 Tight Ends, they likely would keep a 4th. Kelce, Gray, and Bell are logical choices. Matt Bushman has pushed the group. The question becomes, will Reid go with 4 TEs? I would wager that Bushman makes the active roster. The Chiefs have already lost one TE for the season due to injury: Jody Fortson.
RBs
The RB crew is firmly set with three RBs: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Isiah Pacheco, and Jerick McKinnon. Of course, we must wait and see how well Deneric Prince performs in the remaining Preseason game against the Browns. However, I am no longer presuming that Prince is a lock if Reid & Co. go four deep. La’Michal Perine showed us why vs. the Cardinals. Matt Derrick is updating his roster prediction after the show in Arizona.
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The DL
It’s a tough call here due to the Chris Jones holdout. Presuming he reports and plays:
Chris Jones, Keondre Coburn, George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Danny Shelton, Malik Herring, Tershawn Wharton, and Derrick Nnadi.
Add back Charles Omenihu when the suspension is complete. The more I look at Coburn, the more I like him on the IDL. My Bottom Line is that the defense sorely needs CJ in the mix. He is a cornerstone player for the Chiefs.
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Coburn – Scott Winters Photo/Icon Sportswire
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Charles Omenihu will start the season sitting out a 6-week suspension. Tershawn Wharton has not practiced for several days – we haven’t seen a report that details the seriousness of his knee injury. I anticipate that Wharton will be available for the season opener, so by default, I am listing him as a member of the defensive front. My list has nine players at this moment. With Omenihu out for the first six games, a player not listed here will make the active roster. You make the call on who will be called up.
The Linebackers
I still think five LBs will key that level of the defense: Bolton, Gay, Tranquill, Chenal, and Cochrane. Cochrane may have played his way onto the roster. I have no change to note for this group. I will note that Cam Jones looks good too. Bolton is tops in my book!
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Nick Bolton TD after picking up a fumble vs. the Eagles – Chiefs game film screen capture
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The Secondary
The CBs are set, except we don’t know about the knee issue with L’Jarius Sneed. The basic CB starters are Trent McDuffie and Sneed. Despite the finger fractures, the Depth Players will be Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, and Nic Jones. Kahlef Hailassie could also move to the group. He has more than flashed in camp and the first Preseason game.
The Safeties
Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Mike Edwards, and Deon Bush. If they go with five safeties, then Chamarri Connor — who had a terrific game against the Cards — rounds things out.
Specialists
Harrison Butker Kicks the Game Winner in Super Bowl LVII after an earlier miss
– NFL Game Photo
Harrison Butker was injured in the game on the poor field conditions vs. Arizona in 2022. It affected a good portion of his season. Hence you will have seen Andy Reid’s comments about the field conditions in his recent presser due to what happened last year. Of course, the primary players remain the same: Butker, Tommy Townsend, and James Winchester. The most recent news shows Richie James has gotten the nod for both Kick and Punt Returns. I still don’t know who the Gunners will be. Deneric Prince will also likely get additional opportunities as the pre-season closes down.
Of course – these are my projections with no inside information save from my trusted sources who have been at camp. I do hope to make it to St. Joe next year. Perhaps Laddie and I can team up for the occasion. (Editor’s Note: Oh Yea!)
Make of it what you will! This is my version 2.0 mixed in with the topic at hand. The Chiefs were dominant and showed why on Saturday. I was flustered that the first two possessions for the “Ones” that failed to make at least long drives. The OL mastered the game throughout. I was particularly pleased with the “Twos”. Here they moved Jawaan Taylor to the left side for some work. Wanya Morris looked solid, as did Lucas Niang. Above, I observe that the Chiefs have a stellar IOL. I firmly believe that OTs Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor are head and shoulders above Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie (and so does Laddie).
We have yet to see the last Preseason game. By this coming Sunday night, I am sure the lights will be on late in the Chiefs coaching offices, with the final cut date about a week later. It is an exciting time to watch how things go.
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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