Chiefs HC Andy Reid says new DE Joshua Uche has a good chance to play this week and there's precedent for it
The Kansas City Chiefs have a new player in the building after completing a trade with the New England Patriots for DE Joshua Uche. He's trending toward being the second newcomer to make his debut for Kansas City in as many weeks. Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke to reporters about Uche ahead of his first practice […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have a new player in the building after completing a trade with the New England Patriots for DE Joshua Uche. He's trending toward being the second newcomer to make his debut for Kansas City in as many weeks.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke to reporters about Uche ahead of his first practice on Thursday.
"We've had the benefit of having played against him, so we know he's a very aggressive, good pass rusher and good all-around player, good pass rusher," Reid said. "So we'll work him in with the defensive line rotation-wise, as long as he can handle everything. . . but he'll start today, working in there and getting used to what we do."
As for his chances to play on "Monday Night Football", Reid seems to expect it from the new No. 55.
"Yeah, I think there's a good chance," Reid said. "We'll see, though."
Uche intends to hit the ground running and do everything possible to convince the coaching staff that he's ready to play with his new teammates.
"I'm doing everything I can to be out there," Uche said. "You know, at the end of the day, that's a coaching decision, so just doing everything I can to be prepared and ready to go to help the team win."
Lucky for him, there's a precedent that can be followed. . .
There is precedent for new Chiefs DE Joshua Uche playing immediately
DeAndre Hopkins playing in Week 8 after only being in Kansas City for two days should be enough of an indication that Uche has a chance to play on Monday night. However, if that isn't convincing enough, there's also a recent precedent for a pass-rusher to play in the same week he has been acquired under Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo.
This isn't the first time the Chiefs have traded for a pass rusher at the midseason mark. In 2021, Kansas City added DE Melvin Ingram from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 1 after the Chiefs' Week 8 win over the New York Giants. Ingram played 29 total defensive snaps or 46% of the team's total defensive snaps in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers in 2021.
Now, there are a few key differences in these scenarios. Ingram was a seasoned NFL veteran when he joined Kansas City. Uche is just 26 years old and in his fifth season in the league. There's also the fact that Brendan Daly was still the Chiefs' D-Line coach in 2021. Joe Cullen will be tasked with preparing Uche to play on Monday night, which could play a factor.
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