KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs plan to take a long, hard look at their youth talent Friday night when they take on the Seattle Seahawks in their second preseason outing, and the toughest roster battles may be finished before the night ends.
A big reason why Head Coach Andy Reid is departing from past precedent and sitting many of his starters is with a Week 1 trip to Brazil on the horizon for those who survive the roster cutdown on Aug. 26. Reid and general manager Brett Veach would like to have most of their roster decisions finalized next week, allowing the third preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Aug. 22 to serve as a tuneup for the regular season. Game-planning for the Sept. 5 game against the Los Angeles Chargers will be well underway before the roster reduction to 53 players.
That makes Friday night’s matchup at Seattle a key test for players vying for roster spots. Anyone who doesn’t play or plays only sparingly in the first half has likely made the roster. One exception might be the offensive line, where the starters might play a full first quarter, and left tackle Josh Simmons and left guard Kingsley Suamataia might see extended time in the second quarter with the No. 2 line.
Anyone who plays in the first half and exits before halftime should probably feel comfortable. It’s the players on the field in the fourth quarter who will be most under the spotlight.
Based on this week’s roster projection, here are the final four players on the roster (Nos. 50-53), and the last four off (No. 54-57).
Last four on the roster: LB Cam Jones, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, WR Nikko Remigio and S Mike Edwards
Last four off the roster: RB Elijah Mitchell, CB Joshua Williams, DT Marlon Tuipulotu and OT Esa Pole
Quarterback (2)
Starter: Patrick Mahomes
Backup: Gardner Minshew
Practice squad candidate: Chris Oladokun
In the mix: Bailey Zappe
The Zappe experiment has not been a resounding success. Testing windows during training camp is one thing, but Zappe seems to consistently find the well-covered receiver, and his decision-making process is questionable. There’s no doubt about his arm talent, but Oladokun has better command of the offense and can get creative in the backfield if necessary.
Running Back (3)
Starter: Isiah Pacheco
Backups: Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith
Practice squad candidates: Elijah Mitchell and Carson Steele
In the mix: Michael Wiley and Elijah Young
Three running backs aren’t enough, but it’s not entirely clear whether the team’s fourth running back is on the roster. Unless Mitchell breaks out in one of the final two preseason games, expect the Chiefs to be active in the trade market and on the waiver wire for an experienced running back with speed. Steele has an interesting case for the roster as a fullback, utility player and special teamer.
Wide Receiver (7)
Starter: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown
Backups: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Royals, Tyquan Thornton and Nikko Remigio
Practice squad candidates: Skyy Moore, Jason Brownlee, Mac Dalena and Jimmy Holiday
In the mix: Key’Shawn Smith, Elijah Badger and Hal Pressley
The only safe bet for the Chiefs’ receiving corps is that, if healthy and not suspended, Rice, Worthy, Brown, Smith-Schuster and Royals are on the team. Thornton has been the next best receiver in camp, followed closely by Brownlee, who possesses a red zone talent that the club lacks. Remigio is the team’s most reliable return specialist, and unless Brashard Smith has a breakout performance on punt returns in the final two preseason outings, the Chiefs need Remigio.
Tight End (4)
Starter: Travis Kelce
Backups: Noah Gray, Jared Wiley and Robert Tonyan
Practice squad candidates: Tre Watson and Jake Briningstool
In the mix: Geor’Quarius Spivey
How can one leave Tonyan off the 53-player roster beginning the season after the camp he has had? The business reason is that as a vested veteran, Tonyan can be released without clearing waivers and sign with any team he wants, whether on the practice squad or back on the active roster. Tonyan might be in that situation if the Chiefs need roster flexibility. Make no mistake, he’s earned a spot on this team.
Offensive Line (9)
Starters: LT Josh Simmons, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jawaan Taylor
Backups: T/G Jaylon Moore, G/C Mike Caliendo, C/G Hunter Nourzad and T Wanya Morris
Practice squad candidates: C.J. Hanson, T Chukwuebuka Godrick, T Esa Pole and T Ethan Driskell
In the mix: G Dalton Cooper and C Joey Lombard
The flexibility Kansas City’s offensive line reserves leaves the door open for carrying only nine offensive linemen to start Week 1. It’s hard to ignore Godrick’s work with the No. 2 offensive line at both tackle and guard the past two weeks. Hanson is also reliably next in line inside behind Caliendo and Nourzad. Driskell’s appendectomy puts him in a bit of limbo. Pole has been slow to climb the depth chart, but that may be purposeful on the Chiefs’ part to protect him from prying scouts.
Defensive Line (9)
Starter: DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Mike Pennel and DE Mike Danna
Backups: DE Charles Omenihu, DT Omarr Norman-Lott, DT Jerry Tillery, DE Ashton Gillotte and DE Felix Audike-Uzomah
Practice squad candidates: DT Marlon Tuipulotu, DE Malik Herring and DT Fabien Lovett
In the mix: DT Coziah Izzard and DE Nate Matlack
Injured reserve: DE Janarius Robinson
The defensive line doesn’t have any real surprises in its depth chart order. The biggest question is whether to keep nine or 10 linemen. The flexibility of Kansas City’s D-line makes keeping nine – even only eight – a possibility. Tuipulotu will have a chance to prove he belongs during the final two preseason games. It speaks to the team’s increased depth that Herring is on the wrong side of the bubble after clearing landing spots the last few seasons.
Linebackers (6)
Starters: Drue Tranquill, Nick Bolton and Leo Chenal
Backups: Jeffrey Bassa, Jack Cochrane and Cam Jones
Practice squad candidates: Cole Christiansen, Cooper McDonald and Brandon George
Hot take: linebacker might be Kansas City’s deepest position group. All nine players in camp have made a compelling case for the roster. Cochrane is the clear front-runner ahead of Jones and Christiansen for a backup role. The Chiefs could keep just five and hope to still retain at least two of the combination of Christiansen, Jones, McDonald and George on the practice squad.
Cornerback (5)
Starters: Trent McDuffie and Kristian Fulton
Backups: Jaylen Watson, Nazeeh Johnson and Nohl Williams
Practice squad candidates: Joshua Williams and Melvin Smith Jr.
In the mix: Kevin Knowles, Ajani Carter and Azizi Hearn
Another bold take: the Chiefs will keep 10 secondary players. The question is whether they will keep five corners and five safeties or six corners and four safeties. Given the penchant of coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and defensive backs coach Dave Merritt to play with multiple safeties, bet on five safeties. If so, that leaves Williams, who has consistently run with the third third-team defense during camp, on the outside.
Safety (5)
Starters: Bryan Cook and Chamarri Conner
Backups: Jaden Hicks, Chris Roland-Wallace and Mike Edwards
Practice squad candidates: Glendon Miller and Major Williams
In the mix: Jacobe Covington
Injured reserve: Deon Bush
The only question at safety is whether Edwards secures the final spot. If you’re looking for rookies to watch, however, Miller has had an outstanding camp and Williams shows promise as a true deep free safety.
Specialist (3)
Starters: K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza and LS James Winchester
No questions here at all. Long live Eddie Czaplicki.
