'It shows a lot of effort and grit from me' – Chiefs WR Jalen Royals describes battling through foot injury during NFL Combine
Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals is considered by many to be one of the best value picks of the entire 2025 NFL Draft. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Royals in the fourth round, 133rd overall. Multiple experts thought he could be taken as early as during the second round, or at least within the […]
Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals is considered by many to be one of the best value picks of the entire 2025 NFL Draft.
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Royals in the fourth round, 133rd overall. Multiple experts thought he could be taken as early as during the second round, or at least within the top 100.
Part of why Royals fell down the board could be due to a deltoid ligament injury in his right foot that cost him the final five games of the 2024 season. While speaking with the media on Saturday ahead of Chiefs rookie minicamp, Royals talked about battling through the injury during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, and gave us an update on his current status.
"I would say it took me a little longer than expected," Royals said about his recovery. "It was a very delicate injury, a deltoid ligament. But, I'm healthy right now. Fully healthy. I was still recovering at that time (during the combine), but to even go out there and compete with the top guys while still injured, it shows a lot of effort and grit from me."
Royals put up some impressive numbers during the combine despite the foot injury still nagging him, including a 4.4 40-yard dash and the best 10-yard split among all other WRs. Now stating that he is fully healthy, Royals may prove to be even more explosive than what the Chiefs thought
Royals burst onto the scene in 2023 for the Aggies, recording 71 catches for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was off to a great start in 2024 with 55 catches for 834 yards and six TDs through seven games before going down. Royals will have the opportunity to make a big impact as a rookie and be a key piece of Kansas City's WR rotation.
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