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10 Chiefs with the most to prove in Kansas City’s preseason matchup vs. Saints

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10 Chiefs with the most to prove in Kansas City’s preseason matchup vs. Saints


The Kansas City Chiefs intend to defend their Super Bowl LVII title in 2023 and are in the process of determining which players belong on their 53-man roster ahead of the new season. Preseason exhibitions are an ideal time for younger athletes to make their case for a spot on the team, and several Chiefs will have something to prove ahead of Kansas City’s kickoff on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Guys like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Creed Humphrey, and L’Jarius Sneed have nothing to fear heading into the highly anticipated preseason matchup, but others will be fighting for their jobs in the Big Easy. Expectations are high for the Chiefs, and they can’t afford to keep anyone who hasn’t proven to be the best of the best if they want to win a second straight championship.

Here are 10 players who have the most to prove in Kansas City’s tilt against New Orleans on Sunday:

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The hype behind Ross would be unsustainable if not for the exceptional highlight reel he has put together in St. Joseph. He has been a reliable target for quarterbacks in training camp but is unproven against opponents in live-game action. If Ross can’t replicate the success he has found at Missouri Western State University against the Saints on Sunday, the momentum he has built may fizzle out.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kaindoh has been a non-factor for Kansas City in the past, and as a former fourth-round pick, his time to make an impact is quickly running out. The Chiefs have made significant investments in their defensive line, and Kaindoh seems poised to be an odd man out when cuts come in later in August. If he can’t show something special against New Orleans, his career in Kansas City may be cut short.

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Prince, like Ross, has been a training camp darling but his work in practice won’t mean much if he can’t duplicate the success he has found in camp against opponents in the preseason. He has done everything right to this point but is unproven. Prince should get plenty of opportunities to show that he can cut it in Andy Reid’s offense on Sunday.

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Jones is another training camp standout who could make or break his chances of actually becoming a contributor for Kansas City’s defense in 2023 with a strong preseason showing. A seventh-round pick back in April, Jones wasn’t expected to show as much promise as he has in St. Joseph. His ball skills and sticky coverage have impressed fans and coaches alike, but if he gets burned against New Orleans on Sunday his stock could take a tumble.

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Buechele has been impressive in the preseason since joining the Chiefs in 2021 as an undrafted free agent but has to prove that he deserves a look for Kansas City’s backup quarterback role against veteran Blaine Gabbert. Chad Henne’s retirement after Super Bowl LVII seemed to be a sign that Buechele would be a shoo-in for the backup spot this season, but without an excellent performance against the Saints, he could be relegated back to the third spot on the Chiefs’ depth chart.

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Kansas City’s linebacking corps is headlined by consistent starters but lacks depth. Enter Jones, who has a chance to make the Chiefs’ final roster if he can show competency in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense in the preseason. Jones is an athletic backer with some grit to his game, but without an impressive outing against New Orleans, he could see his opportunity fade in favor of veterans Jack Cochrane or Cole Christiansen.

(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Kinnard has the potential to be a valuable piece of Kansas City’s offensive line but hasn’t seen much action to this point in his career. The Chiefs’ decision to draft Wanya Morris in April could spell disaster for Kinnard’s future if he can’t put together a solid preseason. Watch for Kinnard to play with an extra edge against the Saints to solidify his role as a backup on Kansas City’s depth chart.

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(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Shelton is a former first-round pick who may be at the end of his career if he can’t catch on in Kansas City next season. The Chiefs need as much beef as they can get on their defensive line with Chris Jones continuing his holdout, and Shelton is in a prime position to sneak onto the roster if he can show some spark in the preseason. If Shelton stands out against New Orleans, don’t be surprised if he works into more playing time in the coming weeks.

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Remigio seems to be the best player that Kansas City is likely to cut later in August. The Chiefs’ depth at receiver will make it hard for the team to justify keeping seven or more wideouts, but if Remigio can make some impressive plays on special teams against the Saints it could make him too valuable an asset to give up.

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Boye-Doe was an excellent player at Kansas State but faces an uphill battle to make Kansas City’s 53-man roster. A college teammate of Chiefs first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Boye-Doe seemed to catch Brett Veach’s eye on film and has stood out with impressive performances at training camp practices. If he can put together a solid game against New Orleans he may be able to climb the depth chart heading into Kansas City’s next two preseason games.

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5 Chiefs Who Will Carry Kansas City to the Super Bowl

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5 Chiefs Who Will Carry Kansas City to the Super Bowl


The Chiefs look poised to make another deep playoff run en route to a potential third consecutive Super Bowl victory, having secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC with the ability to rest starters in Week 18 on top of the first-round postseason bye.

Guys like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones will obviously be the driving forces behind any major success over the next month, but there are a number of other players who will step up in a big way to help this organization reach immortality.

We all know the leaders, but who are some of the underrated Chiefs who are poised to guide Kansas City to another Lombardi?

It’s hard to call a three-time All-Pro an under-the-radar player, yet fans and national media alike still might not be aware of how special Joe Thuney has been. After another ho-hum season of perhaps the best guard play in the NFL, Thuney flipped over to left tackle, a position he does not play, and has been excellent.

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The 32-year-old only has one year left in his contract. However, no offensive lineman has been more important to the Chiefs. Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith are elite players, though Thuney moving over to left tackle helped resurrect Kansas City’s offense and save the season.

D.J. Humphries’ acquisition has proved to be a failure. He can’t get on the field and at this point, it’s far too risky to let him protect Mahomes. Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia clearly can’t handle the role, so it feels likely that Thuney will remain the Chiefs’ left tackle throughout the playoff run.

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Ranking as the fourth-best offensive guard out of 129 players at Pro Football Focus, Thuney has been marvelous.

Considering next year is the last on his contract, there’s a strong argument to be made that Brett Veach needs to do everything in his power to extend the veteran. If Thuney keeps this level of play up, he’ll be remembered as one of the best offensive linemen in franchise history.





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2 arrested after stolen vehicle leads Kansas City Police on high-speed chase

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2 arrested after stolen vehicle leads Kansas City Police on high-speed chase


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Two men who led police on a high-speed chase through Kansas City in a stolen vehicle have been charged in connection to another stolen vehicle.

Jackson County, Missouri, Circuit Court records indicate that Trevon Perkins, 27, and Demont M. Vandunk, have been charged in connection to the armed robbery of a Corvette from a Kansas City detailer and a high-speed chase that followed.

A probable cause statement filed by the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department revealed that just after 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, emergency crews were called to a local parking lot with reports of an armed robbery. When they arrived, they found a local detailer who reported he had been working on a Corvette when it was stolen.

The victim told law enforcement officials that two men, later identified as Perkins and Vandunk, drove up in a black 2018 Camaro before they threatened to shoot him as they took his wallet, keys and belongings.

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Investigators noted that Vandunk left the scene in the blue 2023 Corvette while Perkins returned to the Camaro and sped off. Later that night, the Camaro was spotted near E. 67th and Monroe Ave. However, when law enforcement officials attempted to pull the driver – Vandunk – over, he attempted to speed off and started a chase.

Law enforcement officials said they followed Vandunk and Perkins, who was in the passenger seat, down Meyer to Swope Pkwy. and onto Cleveland Ave. as they reached speeds of more than 100 mph. Vandunk lost control of the Camaro before it crashed into another vehicle near 40th and Cleveland.

KCPD said Vandunk and Perkins attempted to run but were quickly taken into custody. During the investigation, it was found that the Camaro had also been stolen out of Kansas City, Kansas. All of the property stolen in the earlier robbery was found and seized.

Vandunk was charged with accessory to robbery, armed criminal action and aggravated fleeing a stop. Perkins was charged with accessory to robbery and armed criminal action as a result. If convicted both could face up to life in prison.

As of Friday, Dec. 27, Perkins remains behind bars on a $75,000 bond. A bond review hearing has been scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, with a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. on Jan. 22.

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Vandunk remains behind bars on a $75,000 bond as well. A bond review hearing for him has been set for 10 a.m. on Tuesday with a preliminary hearing also at 2 p.m. on Jan. 22. No further information has been released.

Trevon Perkins, Demont Vandunk(Jackson County, Missouri, Detention Center)



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Titans Could Land Chiefs Star Defender

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Titans Could Land Chiefs Star Defender


The Tennessee Titans spent a whole lot of money last offseason, addressing both sides of the ball in a free-agent frenzy.

One of the Titans’ signees was linebacker Kenneth Murray, who was viewed as a rather questionable addition from the start.

Well, now here we are in late 2024, and the Murray acquisition is largely considered a disaster.

As a result, Tennessee could stand to add another inside linebacker heading into the offseason, so why not pursue Kansas City Chiefs star Nick Bolton?

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Bolton is one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL and has registered 106 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, a couple of fumble recoveries and six passes defended this season.

However, due to the Chiefs’ rather tenuous financial situation, it may prove difficult for Kansas City to bring the experienced defender back into the fold.

That opens the door for the Titans, who are set to enter free agency with solid cap room and can certainly afford to add Bolton.

Remember: inside linebackers are no longer valued like they once were, so they don’t typically make big money on the open market. That means Tennessee may be able to land Bolton on a palatable multi-year deal, and that would be a significant boon to the Titans’ defense.

Bolton joined the professional ranks as a second-round pick of the Chiefs in 2021 and immediately established himself as a force, posting 112 tackles during his rookie campaign.

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The following year, the 24-year-old was even better, racking up 180 tackles, a pair of sacks and two interceptions.

Bolton has also been a member of two Super Bowl-winning Kansas City squads, so he brings ample big-game experience to the table.

While offense is certainly a bigger issue for Tennessee, it needs to address its defense, as well, and Bolton would represent a major get.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!



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