ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Let the public overreaction and analyzing begin.
Aug. 2, 2015; St. Joseph, MO: Chiefs centers Daniel Munyer (77), Eric Kush (64), and Mitch Morse (61) take the field during training camp practice at Missouri Western State University. (Emily DeShazer/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
The Chiefs on Friday night released the initial depth of training camp ahead of the Aug. 15 preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Keep in mind the depth chart is always fluid leading to the regular season.
More importantly, there are plenty of battles yet to be settled with training camp still underway and four preseason games to play.
Players have time to close the gap provided they rise to the occasion.
The offensive line appears in the exact order the players have lined up through six training camp practices, so there are no surprises there.
In fact, there are hardly any shock-factor listings on the depth chart.
The key dates to remember in the coming weeks:
- Sept. 1: Roster cuts from 90 to 75
- Sept. 5: Roster cuts from 75 to 53
- Sept. 6: Establish practice squad
Here is how the Chiefs’ initial depth chart shapes out (rookies are italicized):
OFFENSE
| Wide receiver | Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, Da’Ron Brown, L’Damian Washington, Kenny Cook, Junior Hemingway, Chris Conley |
Reaction: Cook has been quiet since producing during organized team activities.
| Left tackle | Eric Fisher, Jarrod Pughsley, Tavon Rooks |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Left guard | Ben Grubbs, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Paul Fanaika |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Center | Eric Kush, Mitch Morse, Daniel Munyer |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Right guard | Jeff Allen, Zach Fulton, Marcus Reed |
Reaction: Allen has taken the majority of first-team snaps, so no surprises.
| Right tackle | Donald Stephenson, Derek Sherrod, Garrett Frye |
Reaction: The Chiefs need to identify the swing tackle and Sherrod is a prime candidate.
| Tight end | Travis Kelce, James O’Shaughnessy, Richard Gordon, Ryan Taylor, Adam Schiltz, Demetrius Harris |
Reaction: O’Shaughnessy has been solid, so his listing as the No. 2 tight end is justified.
| Wide receiver | Albert Wilson, De’Anthony Thomas, Frankie Hammond Jr., Fred Williams, Tello Luckett, Armon Binns, Jeret Smith |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Quarterback | Alex Smith, Chase Daniel, Aaron Murray, Tyler Bray |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Running back | Jamaal Charles, Knile Davis, Charcandrick West, Darrin Reaves |
Reaction: The No. 3 running back job is West’s to lose.
| Fullback | Anthony Sherman, Spencer Ware |
Reaction: No surprises.
DEFENSE
| Left defensive end | Mike DeVito, Mike Catapano, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, David Irving |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Nose tackle | Jaye Howard, Hebron Fangupo, Charles Tuaau, Dontari Poe |
Reaction: Howard, who now weighs 330 pounds, will be asked to hold down the fort while Poe recovers from back surgery.
| Right defensive end | Allen Bailey, Nick Williams, Vaughn Martin |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Left outside linebacker | Justin Houston, Dezman Moses, Josh Martin, Sage Harold |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Left inside linebacker | Josh Mauga, Ramik Wilson, James-Michael Johnson |
Reaction: Johnson, who has been battling a calf injury, needs to get back on the field.
| Right inside linebacker | Derrick Johnson, D.J. Alexander, Justin March |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Right outside linebacker | Tamba Hali, Dee Ford, Frank Zombo |
Reaction: No surprises, but Ford should be used to spell Hali during the regular season.
| Left cornerback | Phillip Gaines, Marcus Peters, Marcus Cooper, Kenneth Penny, Kevin Short |
Reaction: No surprise. Gaines has shifted to the nickel cornerback spot with Peters on the outside in the nickel package.
| Right cornerback | Sean Smith, Jamell Fleming, Steven Nelson, Deji Olatoye, Aaron Hester |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Strong safety | Ron Parker, Tyvon Branch, Kelcie McCray |
Reaction: No surprises.
| Free safety | Husain Abdullah, Eric Berry, Daniel Sorensen, Sanders Commings |
Reaction: The Chiefs listing Berry as a free safety is a mild surprise.
SPECIALISTS
| Punter | Dustin Colquitt, Cairo Santos |
Reaction: None.
| Kicker | Cairo Santos |
Reaction: None.
| KO | Cairo Santos, Dustin Colquitt |
Reaction: None.
| Long snapper | James Winchester, Andrew East |
Reaction: Winchester has often taken the first snaps during special team drills, but this battle is far from over.
| Holder | Dustin Colquitt, Chase Daniel |
Reaction: None.
| Punt returner | De’Anthony Thomas, Jeremy Maclin |
Reaction: None.
| Kick returner | Knile Davis, Chris Conley |
Reaction: None.
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Herbie Teope is the lead beat writer and reporter for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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