Kansas City Chiefs players with the most to gain during the preseason Week 1 opener vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Kansas City Chiefs are set to square off against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, August 10 at 6:00 p.m. CT. This game will mark the first preseason action of the year for the reigning Super Bowl champions. For many players, it'll be their first taste of NFL football, where they can show they belong in the […]
The Kansas City Chiefs are set to square off against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, August 10 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
This game will mark the first preseason action of the year for the reigning Super Bowl champions. For many players, it'll be their first taste of NFL football, where they can show they belong in the NFL. For others, it'll be yet another opportunity to make an impression on the front office and coaching staff to carve out a bigger role for the 2024 NFL season.
Here's a quick look at six Chiefs players who have the most to gain when they take the field on Saturday.
RB Deneric Prince
No player on the Chiefs' roster has more to gain than Prince during preseason Week 1. The coaching staff has taken a long look at the second-year running back during training camp after he spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad in Kansas City. He's been getting repetitions with the first-team offense, oftentimes as the first running back in the game in relief of Isiah Pacheco. A strong performance on Saturday could go a long way toward cementing Prince as RB2 for the Chiefs. He knows that the key is going to be showcasing improvement in one specific part of his game.
LT Kingsley Suamataia
Suamataia has taken virtually all of the starting repetitions at the left tackle position during training camp. When Wanya Morris began taking snaps at left guard, it appeared as if the competition for the left tackle position was all but over. However, Andy Reid still has yet to formally name Suamataia the team's starting left tackle. The writing is on the wall that he'll be the guy, but a strong performance in preseason Week 1 could get Chiefs HC Andy Reid to declare Suamataia the winner of this position battle. He's already proven himself against top competition on the 90-man roster in Kansas City, but it's time to prove it against real opponents as well.
WR Nikko Remigio
Remigio was a preseason standout a year ago, but he suffered a clavicle injury that landed him on injured reserve. He'll have an opportunity to pick up right where he left off in preseason Week 1, and then some. The second-year wideout is currently listed as the team's starting kickoff return specialist. With new rules, it's one of the most intriguing parts of the preseason, so fans will be watching very carefully. Remigio hasn't worked quite as frequently with the first- and second-team offense as training camp has progressed. If he continues to play with the likes of Chris Oladokun and Ian Book, that just means he'll face a lesser level of competition to make plays against.
WR Justyn Ross
A fan-favorite over the past few offseasons, Ross has no shortage of highlight-reel plays at training camp this year. He'll need to continue to put up good tape on offense during the preseason if he's to crack a competitive wide receiver room in Kansas City. One thing he has going for him is that he has a very different style and body type from the majority of receivers on the roster. That could prove beneficial for him, especially when it comes to making impact plays in the red zone. On the flip side, Ross has very little value on special teams and to make the roster as a WR5/6/7, you typically need to play some special teams.
CB Keith Taylor
This is a player who might be flying under the radar for many throughout the Chiefs Kingdom, but they'll have a chance to get familiar in the preseason. Taylor spent the entire 2023 NFL season on the practice squad in Kansas City. When cornerback injuries began mounting at training camp this year, he was the one who got inserted into the starting lineup working alongside Trent McDuffie and Joshua Williams when Chamarri Conner was working at safety and not in the slot. Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson are back in the lineup, so Taylor will likely be relegated to the second-team defense, but a good performance could earn him a backup role in a competitive cornerback room.
RB/FB Carson Steele
Last season, Chiefs HC Andy Reid didn't carry a fullback on his roster for the first time in over two decades of head coaching in the NFL. Steele has an opportunity to convince Reid to bring back the fullback position after a brief absence. So far, he's been getting looks with the first- and second-team offense at training camp as both a fullback and a traditional running back on short-yardage looks and in the passing game. If he can excel in all three areas starting on Saturday, in addition to being a multi-phase special teamer, he'll have a good chance to make the team.
Runners up
- CB Nazeeh Johnson
- S Jaden Hicks
- TE Irv Smith Jr.
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