With a Week 4 game against the Las Vegas Raiders coming up, it may feel like a distant memory. Kansas City Chiefs rookie CB Mansoor Delane finally had an opportunity to open up about the highs and lows of his NFL debut.

You might recall that Dallane drew his first NFL start and played three defensive snaps before exiting the game with an injury. On his final snap before leaving, he intercepted Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix. It was quite an impressive start for the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Delane spent most of training camp and the offseason workout program sidelined with a shoulder injury. He had only just returned, playing in the final two preseason games and appearing in Week 1 before suffering another shoulder injury. Because he was injured in that game, reporters never got a chance to talk to him about the interception and the ensuing injury. That is until now.

Chiefs CB Mansoor Delane chasing more interceptions after Week 1

After Week 3’s win over the Miami Dolphins, Delane took time in the locker room to talk about his first career NFL interception and what came next.

“Yeah, that was crazy,” Delane said. “It felt kind of unreal. Three plays, I get a pick. Like I’m thinking I’m going to get like a pick every four or five plays. (laughter) That’s not the case, but it was a great moment. Monday Night Football, but that’s in the past. Now we’re trying to get some more picks.”

Interceptions don’t come particularly easy in Steve Spagnuolo and Dave Merritt’s system. However, the defense placed a big emphasis on creating more turnovers during the offseason. They missed a few of those opportunities collectively in Week 3 against the Dolphins, so they’ll look to get back on track at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.

Delane tried to go back into the game, but self-reflection made it clear why he couldn’t

After an impressive moment in which Delane intercepted a pass and made a huge play for his team in a primetime game against a divisional opponent, his adrenaline was pumping. Even though he knew something wasn’t right with his shoulder, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said Delane was trying to get back out there.

Delane realized he’d put his team in a worse spot if he returned than if he exited. He needed to figure out what was wrong with his shoulder, make sure he hadn’t reinjured it, and put himself in a better position for the future.

“It was super hard,” Delane explained. “But at the end of the day, I don’t want to be a liability to the team. I had got to a point where I couldn’t really have a lot of strength in that shoulder, so I just decided to go back. Just every week getting better with that shoulder and got to keep improving.”

That decision paid off. It became clear during Week 3’s win over the Dolphins, when Delane played 99% of Kansas City’s defensive snaps. He recorded 10 total tackles, the second most on the team, a tackle for loss, and a pass defended. He also had multiple solo stops.

The Chiefs need Delane healthy and available for the long haul. His willingness to step away from that Week 1 game, despite the adrenaline of a career-defining interception, speaks to maturity beyond his years. With the Raiders on deck in Week 4, Delane looks poised to build on a strong Week 3 performance and continue adding to his takeaway total.