Unheralded Chiefs receiver could play special role in 2023

An unheralded member of the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver room could wind up playing a special role in the team's success in 2023. Richie James signed with the Chiefs as a free agent back in April after having the best season of his NFL career with the New York Giants. He caught 57 passes for […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor

Sep 4, 2023 3:55 PM EDT

An unheralded member of the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver room could wind up playing a special role in the team's success in 2023.

Richie James signed with the Chiefs as a free agent back in April after having the best season of his NFL career with the New York Giants. He caught 57 passes for 569 yards and four touchdowns, playing nearly 500 snaps in the slot. He also was New York's punt returner with 24 returns for 174 yards.

On Monday, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub confirmed that James will be the team's starter at both return specialist roles.

Richie James, starting return specialist

James solves a massive problem for the Chiefs from a season ago, providing stability and veteran poise at the punt returner position.

"Richie (James), right now, you'll see him lined up in there and going," Toub said. "But we have other guys who can do it as well. We like the way Richie came out of the preseason and his decision-making. Having an experienced guy back there is going to help us."

Toub emphasized the fact that it's a long season and other players will likely get involved on punt and kick returns. He specifically mentioned Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore as options there. But for now, James holds the keys to those two roles.

"It's kind of a comforting feeling to come out of the preseason knowing that you've got a guy like Richie James," Toub said. "(He's) solid, he's done it. . . at the end of the year last year, it was obviously high stress (at the punt returner position)."

Last season the Chiefs struggled to find a solution at punt returner, with Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, and Justin Watson each taking over the role. Moore struggled fielding punts, while Toney missed time with injuries.

James' role on special teams is just one way he'll contribute on a weekly basis.

James has earned the trust of coaches and the quarterback

While most of James' action came with the second-team offense during the preseason, he's made enough progress since his arrival that he's now in the inner circle. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Matt Nagy explained what James brings to the table on offense.

"For me, meeting Richie (James) when he first got here and seeing him in OTAs, what he transferred to training camp and where he's at now is just a great knowledge of the offense," Nagy said. "Being in the right spot at the right time. As a quarterback or as a coach, when you have somebody like that, you trust them. On top of that, he's very talented. You saw that in the preseason game. He was able to go downfield, make great catches, etc. So, he's got some veteran experience he brings to that room as well."

James is going to get looks in the slot. He's going to get a helping of designed touches to get him out in space. Look for that veteran experience to be heavily relied upon as early as Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season.