The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are set to face the Chicago Bears in preseason Week 1.
This is without doubt one of the extra aggressive 90-man offseason rosters that the Chiefs have fielded lately. There are many gamers who’re proficient sufficient to make the 53-man roster, however they aren’t all but locks to make the staff. A number of gamers who’re on the roster bubble will want a robust efficiency within the preseason with the intention to make their case. That can all begin towards the Bears on Saturday, in a recreation the place the starters are anticipated to play their least quantity of snaps of the whole preseason.
Right here’s a have a look at 4 gamers on the roster bubble who want a robust efficiency towards the Bears in preseason Week 1:
WR Josh Gordon
AP Picture/Charlie Riedel
Gordon is coming off what was a disappointing 2021 NFL season in Kansas Metropolis. He completed the yr with only a handful of catches on over a dozen targets with 32 receiving yards and a rating. The staff finally opted to raise Daurice Fountain to the 53-man roster over Gordon within the playoffs as a result of Fountain offered extra worth on particular groups.
The Chiefs have a loopy quantity of competitors on the large receiver place proper now and few spots on the 53-man roster. Gordon hasn’t been getting a ton of repetitions throughout follow and he is aware of that the preseason goes to be massive for him to indicate his development.
“That’s when it’s time to do what we get requested to do,” Gordon stated, by way of KC Sports activities Community. “That’s what I got here right here to do. When the lights are on — I wish to do it at follow first for positive — however you may’t all the time get it proper in follow. You don’t all the time have the time, the reps, the chance. You’ve received to take the psychological reps and what’s based mostly on the chance I’ve after which simply go present enchancment. So, come the preseason video games, that’s what I hope to do.”
A giant preseason efficiency in Week 1 may go a great distance towards proving that final season was an aberration and that he’s able to efficiently contribute to the staff.
RB Ronald Jones II
In the course of the staff’s remaining coaching camp follow forward of preseason Week 1, Jones was relegated to snaps with the third-team offense throughout staff drills. He was working behind rookie RB Isiah Pacheco and third-year RB Derrick Gore. Even working with the third staff, Jones’ snaps have been about as sparse as they’d been all coaching camp. This isn’t the primary time it occurred that method both, with Jones being fifth within the pecking order earlier in coaching camp as nicely.
Principally, it appears like Jones hasn’t made a lot headway with the teaching workers throughout coaching camp. Eric Bieniemy instructed Jones is an effective runner, however he doesn’t but do all the pieces they require of the operating again place. Bieniemy stated Jones has accepted the problem of doing issues out of his consolation zone, however he must hold working at it in follow and all through the preseason.
Andy Reid commented on the follow repetitions, saying that some days Jones will get extra work in follow and others he gained’t. He additionally emphasised that the veteran operating again will get an opportunity to play within the preseason. Will Jones’ preseason showcase be about him making his case for the roster or will it’s about constructing worth for a possible commerce? That continues to be to be seen.
DT Taylor Stallworth
Stallworth was again at follow on Thursday after lacking a number of follow periods with a knee contusion, however he got here again to some new competitors. Free agent DT Danny Shelton is anticipated to hitch the staff after the primary preseason recreation, offering Kansas Metropolis with one other run-stuffing defensive sort out to work alongside Derrick Nnadi.
Up to now, Stallworth has managed to have a really quiet coaching camp at a place the place the Chiefs don’t precisely have a number of depth. He was referred to as a pressure-producing defensive sort out final season with the Colts, having performed only a small portion of the staff’s snaps. A flashy efficiency in Week 1 may go a great distance towards securing Stallworth a spot, at the very least by way of the staff’s gradual roster cuts that start subsequent Tuesday.
CB Chris Lammons
We’ve already seen Kansas Metropolis say goodbye to 1 veteran cornerback in Deandre Baker this offseason. That ought to get a veteran participant like Lammons, who has primarily been a particular teamer, involved about his job safety.
There’s a little bit of a youth motion occurring on the cornerback place in Kansas Metropolis this offseason. The Chiefs have given rookies Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson each alternative to earn their hold. They’re additionally taking lengthy appears to be like at gamers like Dicaprio Bootle, Lonnie Johnson and Brandin Dandridge.
There’s additionally the truth that Lammons has some unresolved authorized points stemming from participation in a Las Vegas assault involving Saints RB Alvin Kamara. He may finally be suspended, which may depart the staff taking a look at different choices. A giant efficiency within the preseason, nevertheless, may power the Chiefs to look previous that.