ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — One preseason game and 15 training camp practices give us a pretty nice sample to determine who is doing enough so far to belong on the Kansas City Chiefs’ 53-man roster.
Things can change in the next two weeks before Aug. 27, the NFL’s annual cutdown day. The Chiefs lost their first exhibition game Saturday to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the game still provided a good indication of the team’s depth chart.
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At this point, about five roster spots can still be considered open. The next two preseason games will be extremely valuable for a group of 12 or so players on the roster bubble. And availability on the field, which has been an issue for a small group of players, could be the difference in whether they did enough or not for coach Andy Reid and his coaching staff to ensure their spot.
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Our final roster projection will come after the Chiefs’ preseason finale against the Chicago Bears.
Note: Starters are designated in italics.
Offense (25)
Quarterbacks (2): Patrick Mahomes, Carson Wentz
Entering his eighth season, Mahomes did well in his limited action Saturday, completing three of his four passes (the final one a third-down drop by receiver Rashee Rice). The good news is that Mahomes didn’t get hit in the game. He should have his final dress rehearsal Saturday afternoon when the Chiefs face the Detroit Lions.
Wentz should give the Chiefs their most athletic backup quarterback in the Mahomes era. Wentz showed a bit of his athleticism in Saturday’s game, but he often didn’t have much time in the pocket because of the struggles of the second-team offensive line. Although he’s not included in this projection, third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun has a big lead on Ian Book to be the scout-team passer on the practice squad.
QB1's got jokes 🤣 pic.twitter.com/OjBYDMC0Bh
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 11, 2024
Running backs (2): Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The number of players at this position can change, but this was always the issue for the Chiefs entering training camp: Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire are their only running backs with legitimate experience.
Deneric Prince still has a strong chance to make the roster. The second-year man had 16 rushing yards on four attempts on Saturday night. But Prince needs to be more consistent as a pass protector and on special teams. Prince cost the Chiefs a safety on a kickoff. As part of the league’s new format,a ball that lands in the end zone but bounces back onto the field of play is a live ball, essentially becoming a fumble. Instead of letting the ball land behind him in the end zone, Prince should have caught the ball and then taken a knee for a touchback to ensure the Chiefs started their possession at the 30-yard line.
GO DEEPERChiefs preseason takeaways: Marquise Brown injured, but rookies shine in openerFullback (1): Carson Steele
Another reason Prince is not included in this roster projection is because Steele, an undrafted rookie, had an undeniably excellent preseason debut. Steele led the Chiefs with 29 rushing yards on four attempts, breaking several tackles along the way. Another reason Steele has a strong case to make the initial roster is that Reid is a traditionalist who values the versatility of a fullback. The next test for Steele will come Saturday against the Lions when the Chiefs see how well he can block for Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire.
Carson Steele powers his way in for the score!
📺: #KCvsJAX on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/32aWEpeSjI— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
Wide receivers (7): Marquise Brown, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman, Justyn Ross, Nikko Remigio
Well, here we go again. When camp began, the Chiefs likely wanted to keep just six receivers, which often creates another roster spot for an offensive lineman. Last year, the Chiefs kept seven receivers in part because Kadarius Toney, then the projected No. 1 receiver, missed all of camp and the preseason with a knee injury.
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This year, the Chiefs should keep seven receivers after Brown sustained a sternoclavicular dislocation. Brown is likely to miss the Chiefs’ season opener Sept. 5 against the Baltimore Ravens.
The last two spots go to Ross and Remigio because they played against the Jaguars and showed they can succeed in their roles. Ross had the best reception of the game for the Chiefs and Remigio is likely the team’s top kickoff returner. Toney and Skyy Moore, the 2022 second-round pick, will have to excel in the final two preseason games to help their chances of making the initial roster.
🚨 TOE TAP ALERT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/K80dW909S4
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 11, 2024
Tight ends (4): Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Irv Smith Jr.
The Chiefs once again have four capable tight ends. Smith, a sixth-year veteran, has done well in camp and can be a contributor on special teams. Gray and Wiley can be interchangeable within the offense as the second tight end in some formations.
Linemen (9): Kingsley Suamataia, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Wanya Morris, Mike Caliendo, Lucas Niang, Hunter Nourzad
Morris, the second-year tackle, didn’t play against the Jaguars because of a right leg injury he sustained last week in camp. He appears headed to be the Chiefs’ swing tackle. All indications so far suggest that Suamataia has won the starting left tackle job. He did well protecting Mahomes in his six snaps against the Jaguars.
As for the backup roles, Caliendo should be the first guard if Thuney or Smith sustains an injury. Niang will be the backup right tackle for another year and Nourzad, a rookie, has the versatility to play guard or center as he continues to develop. The lone issue is the Chiefs don’t have a clear backup center. The need for a seventh receiver could force the Chiefs to expose rookie seventh-round pick C.J. Hanson to waivers before adding him to the practice squad.
GO DEEPERHow Louis Rees-Zammit is tackling the transition from rugby to the NFL with the ChiefsDefense (25)
Linemen (9): George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, Mike Pennel, Mike Danna, Tershawn Wharton, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Derrick Nnadi, Neil Farrell, Malik Herring
One way to look at this group is that the Chiefs are in much better shape than last year because Jones is not holding out. Also, Pennel starting over Nnadi appears to be an upgrade.
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But another way to look at this group is that the Chiefs still have a problem: They just don’t have enough quality defensive linemen. The major absence is Charles Omenihu, who is still on the physically unable to perform list while he recovers from the torn right ACL he sustained in January. The earliest Omenihu could return to the field is in late October, perhaps in Week 8 on Oct. 27 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Anudike-Uzomah has shown small improvements throughout camp and Farrell should have a bigger role this season. Still, the Chiefs could use another defensive end for the start of the season. If general manager Brett Veach wants to make a move before the season opener, the team has $17.1 million in salary-cap space, according to Over the Cap.
Linebacker (5): Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, Cam Jones
No surprises here. Bolton, who missed Saturday’s game with a left elbow injury, should be ready for the season opener. Cochrane has been one of the best performers in camp. In Bolton’s absence, Cochrane collected a nice sack of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Saturday.
Based on Saturday’s game, Jones appears to have a small advantage over Cole Christiansen, especially for special teams snaps. Christiansen still flashed against the Jaguars as he sacked backup quarterback Mac Jones. If Christiansen plays well in the final two preseason games, the Chiefs could keep six linebackers.
The @Chiefs get the sack on 4th down 😤
📺: #KCvsJAX on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/5QQkuGtMLf— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
Cornerbacks (6): Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, Kelvin Joseph, Nazeeh Johnson, Kamal Hadden
Let’s all remember that a major reason the Chiefs traded L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans in the offseason is because Reid and Veach felt the team still had three capable starters in McDuffie, Williams and Watson. Well, McDuffie has been excellent in camp. The problem is no one has made a strong argument to be the second starting cornerback.
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Williams started against the Jaguars, but his performance was mixed. He recorded three tackles and defended one pass to the perimeter well. But he also got beat by rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who had a 41-yard reception.
The Chiefs hope Watson (shoulder), Joseph (strained hamstring) and Johnson (strained hamstring) can play against the Lions and increase the competition for the starting job.
BTJ gonna be a problem!@BrianThomas_11 | #KCvsJAX on CBS pic.twitter.com/CVCGPyoKZV
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 10, 2024
Safeties (5): Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Charmarri Conner, Jaden Hicks, Deon Bush
Right now, this is the strongest position group of coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit. Similar to Bolton, the Chiefs expect Reid (quad) to be ready for the start of the regular season. Conner should be the primary nickel defender if the cornerbacks continue to struggle.
Hicks, the fourth-round rookie, was one of the better defenders against the Jaguars. Hicks has done well with first-team reps in camp, and he was rewarded by Spagnuolo as the lone rookie defensive starter. Hicks led the Chiefs in the first half with three solo tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage in a one-on-one matchup on the perimeter against running back Tank Bigsby. Hicks and Bush should be above-average contributors on special teams.
GO DEEPERSizing up the Chiefs' cornerback competition — the lone position battle in campSpecial teams (3)
Kicker (1): Harrison Butker
Punter (1): Matt Araiza
Long snapper (1): James Winchester
All three specialists performed well against the Jaguars. If the Chiefs’ coverage team continues to struggle on kickoffs, coordinator Dave Toub may just have Butker blast the ball through the end zone,which would give the opposing team the ball at the 30-yard line.
Parker Washington takes the kickoff back 74 yards!
📺: #KCvsJAX on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XpqYhirBvD— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
In his first game in almost two years, Araiza was impressive with his four punts against the Jaguars. Two landed inside the 20-yard line, and his average of 41.3 yards should please Toub.
Toub appears to have three strong returner options in Remigio, Worthy and Hardman.
(Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)
Nate Taylor has been a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Kansas City Chiefs since 2018. Before that, he covered the Indiana Pacers at The Indianapolis Star for two years. He has also been a sports features writer for The New York Times and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A Kansas City native, he graduated from the University of Central Missouri. Follow Nate on Twitter @ByNateTaylor
