‘It’s something we can build off of’ — Chiefs DT Chris Jones saw serious promise in rookie teammates’ NFL debut
The Kansas City Chiefs have something they can build off of in rookie DT Omarr Norman-Lott.
The Kansas City Chiefs finally got a look at their second-round draft pick in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles, and star DT Chris Jones liked what he saw from the rookie.
Omarr Norman-Lott missed the Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Chargers with an ankle injury, but he healed enough to make his NFL debut in the 20-17 loss to the Eagles. While Norman-Lott played just 16 defensive snaps, he also had one of the standout defensive plays of the day, producing the team’s only sack of Eagles QB Jalen Hurts.
“It was a very physical sack,” Jones said. “He’s a huge guy with that ability. I think we drafted him in the second round just for that, and he came out and made a big statement today. It’s something we can build off of and add him to the rotation. I’m glad to have him back.”
Jones can also take a bit more credit for the sack, according to Norman-Lott. And it’s not just about the move that flushed Hurts in Norman-Lott’s waiting grasp.
Chiefs DT Omarr Norman-Lott credits his vets with putting him in position to notch his first career sack
After the Week 2 loss to the Eagles, Norman-Lott revealed that he had some coaching from teammates that led to the sack on Hurts.
“This whole week, my vets, Charles Omenihu, Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, all preached to just keep rushing,” Norman-Lott told KSHB-TV’s McKenzie Nelson after the game. “Because Jalen Hurts holds the ball and we have a good back-end group, and that’s kind of what happened on that play—just kept rushing.”
It wasn’t the only part of the game to take pride in for the rookie defender. He played six snaps in run defense, helping in part to hold the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Saquon Barkley, under 100 yards rushing.
“Just us being intentional with what we were doing on the field, each and every play, and the results happened,” Norman-Lott said of the run defense. “The proof is in the pudding.”
Unfortunately, the intentionality didn’t result in a win, but even the rookie recognizes that this defense made some positive strides in Week 2.
“I feel like we brought the energy,” Norman-Lott said. “But sometimes it’s just not enough. And we have an opportunity next week to do the same thing. Just keep building off of what we have going already.”
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