Dave Toub names Chiefs' starting special teamers ahead of preseason Week 1

For the second consecutive season, the Kansas City Chiefs will undergo some notable changes on special teams. Several players who were contributors a season ago are looking to take larger roles on offense and defense, leaving openings in special team return and coverage units. Speaking to reporters following practice on Saturday, Toub named several starters for […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor
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For the second consecutive season, the Kansas City Chiefs will undergo some notable changes on special teams. 

Several players who were contributors a season ago are looking to take larger roles on offense and defense, leaving openings in special team return and coverage units. Speaking to reporters following practice on Saturday, Toub named several starters for the upcoming preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 13. 

"First guy, Deneric Prince, I want to see him," Toub explained. "He'll start off as kick returner for us. I want to see him with live bullets, guys coming down the field, how he sets up the blocks, and how he hits it. Everything that I've seen in practice, I think I'm going to see in a game, but you've still got to see it." 

The NFL's new kick return fair catch rules will be in effect as of preseason Week 1. However, don't expect Prince to hit the brakes and call for a fair catch during the game. 

"Yeah, we're not going to fair catch," Toub said. "Not in preseason, if they kick the ball to us and we get our hands on it, we want to return it. We want to find out who we've got. We want to find out who can block and who can return." 

Toub expects that Prince will be able to show out, and while he didn't yet name a starting punt returner, look for WR Richie James to handle those duties. 

Toub also needs to find out more about the Chiefs' kick and punt coverage units. After top gunner Nazeeh Johnson tore his ACL in practice, they'll look to two second-year corners to fill the role.

"Right now we've got Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams," Toub said. "Those are our two gunners right now, going forward. Hopefully, some of these young guys, maybe (Ekow) Boye-Doe, maybe he comes through. Then (Justin) Watson, the wide receiver. (Justyn) Ross, the other wide receiver. I mean all those guys will all have a shot." 

Toub elaborated on Boye-Doe, who has also been taking some first-team repetitions at cornerback during practice. The veteran special teams coordinator has some concerns about the rookie, but seeing him in action will determine whether he can cut it on his coverage units.

“(Ekow) Boye-Doe he’s coming on, especially recently," Toub said of the rookie. "The thing about him (is) he’s not a real big guy, so you wonder how he’s going to hold up. We got him at gunner, so we’re going to see him in there. He’s going to have to use his speed to be able to get out on guys to be able to run. He’s got the top-end speed, but the big question is, is he going to play bigger than he actually is because he’s about 177 pounds. He’s kind of slight but we’ve had guys that have been that small that came on and became good players for us so it’s not impossible.”

Reporters also noted that training camp darling, Justyn Ross, was spotted taking repetitions at gunner and recovering a ball at the 1-yard line. Toub isn't opposed to playing Ross on special teams despite his injury history. 

“Yeah, I mean that’s part of the gunner job," Toub said. "In the pooch areas, you don’t get doubled a lot because you have eight guys in the box, so you’re singled up to get out and run. Then your job is to go down and make a play on the ball when Tommy (Townsend) hangs up. That’s what we were working on today, and he’s got that skill.” 

Ultimately, they'll just have to see how players like Boye-Doe and Ross progress throughout the remainder of training camp and the preseason to make a final determination there.

Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

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