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5 Kansas City Chiefs roster battles fans need to watch this summer

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5 Kansas City Chiefs roster battles fans need to watch this summer


The Kansas City Chiefs’ work is never done, even with the first game not for many more months. While we wait for who they play in Week 1, the organization is readying for the dog days of summer where much of the roster takes shape.

If you pull up Kansas City’s depth chart on their team website, you will notice plenty of open spots in the starting roles. I mean, there is no point in updating the depth chart right now, but it is an ironic representation of how many jobs are up[ for grabs right now. Between departing free agents and underperformers, Chiefs Kingdom deserves to see some new blood in the starting 25.

Not all of these battles are for the top dog, but still important roles nonetheless. Let’s take a look at the five roster battles you need to watch this offseason.

Primary participants: Matt Araiza, Ryan Rehkow

The punting battle brewing in Kansas City is not your typical camp news—it promises to be an entertaining showdown. Chiefs Kingdom rejoiced when Veach added “Punt God” Matt Araiza to the roster, with his legal issues behind him. The Buffalo Bills released their 2022 sixth-round pick, who had been named their starting punter, following allegations from 2022, despite already having assigned him the role. With the lawsuits settled in December 2023, Araiza had a clear road back to the NFL.

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Araiza’s collegiate resume is impressive, boasting achievements like being a unanimous All-American and clinching the 2021 Ray Guy Award for the nation’s top collegiate punter. But professional sports is all about what a player has done lately, and it will be nearly two years between Araiza’s preseason with Buffalo and his performance in St. Joseph. Camp competition is always good, but Veach brought in an insurance policy for Araiza in rookie Ryan Rehkow.

The BYU alum signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chiefs after spending four years with the Cougars. He played in 50 games, landing on the Ray Guy Award watch list for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023. In 2023, he concluded the season as the Big 12’s top punter, maintaining an average of 48.4 yards per punt, a feat that also secured him the second position nationally. His 31 punts greater than 50 yards led the conference by a wide margin as well. Rehkow has a powerful leg, one that could rival the rusty Araiza.

Tommy Townsend became a first-team All-Pro after the Chiefs signed him as an undrafted free agent a few years ago. Townsend signed with the Houston Texans at the beginning of the season, which opened up a spot alongside Harrison Butker. Araiza and Rehkow both have booming legs, with their drawbacks. In any case, Kansas City boasts two exceptional punting options to kick off the summer.



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Kansas

How To Watch Kansas State-TCU, Lineups, Preview, Stats To Watch

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How To Watch Kansas State-TCU, Lineups, Preview, Stats To Watch


Betting line: K-State (+3.5)

O/U: 141.5

Money Line: CIN -160, KSU +132

Game time: 4:00 pm, EST

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Where: Schollmaier Arena, Fort Worth, TX

TV: CBS (watch here)

VITALS: Kansas State is coming off their first victory after losing three in a row. Dug McDaniel had just his second start of the season, where he scored 17 on 53.8 percent shooting. Coleman Hawkins had his best performance as a Wildcat, logging 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals. They face a TCU squad looking for its first Big 12 victory after losing to Arizona Monday.

PROJECTED STARTERS

WILDCATS

G Brendan Hausen: 13.0 PTS, 2.3 REB, 1.3 AST

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G Dug McDaniel: 10.3 PTS, 2.6 REB, 4.3 AST

F Max Jones: 8.7 PTS, 3.5 REB, 2.1 AST

F David N’Guessan: 13.6 PTS, 6.8 REB, 1.6 AST

F Coleman Hawkins: 10.1 PTS, 7.0 REB, 4.1 AST

HORNED FROGS

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G Noah Reynolds: 10.6 PTS, 2.5 REB, 3.9 AST

G Vasean Allette: 10.7 PTS, 3.3 REB, 2.3 AST

F Trazarien White: 10.2 PTS, 3.3 REB, 1.7 STL

F David Punch: 6.1 PTS, 4.8 REB, 1.0 BLK

F Ernest Udeh Jr.: 9.2 PTS, 8.6 REB, 1.3 AST

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QUOTABLE: “It makes us even more versatile,” Dug McDaniel said about Coleman Hawkins’ presence in starting lineup. “When you have a 6’10” guy who can put the ball on the floor and make decisions. Nine times out of 10, their fours and fives are guarding him, and it’s harder for those guys to guard in the perimeter. He’s very versatile, and I feel like if we keep using him the right way, he can go very far.”

Jayden Armant is a graduate of the Howard University School of Communications and a contributor to Kansas State Wildcats on SI. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.



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Northeast Kansas school cancels Monday classes due to winter weather

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Northeast Kansas school cancels Monday classes due to winter weather


JUNCTION CITY (KSNT) – A northeast Kansas school district announced it will be closed early next week due to winter weather.

Matthew Hoover with the Geary County Schools USD 475 said in a press release on Jan. 3 the district will be closed on Monday, Jan. 6. Athletic and after-school activities on Monday are canceled.

“We look forward to seeing our students and staff back in our schools on Tuesday, Jan. 7. USD 475 will continue to monitor the weather throughout the upcoming days and will notify parents of any school closings or changes.”

USD 475 press release excerpt

Hoover said classes are expected to resume on Tuesday, Jan. 7. However, school officials will continue to monitor the situation and keep parents informed as the weather changes.

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Parents can keep up with urgent alerts from the district through its School Messenger text message service. People can access this by texting ‘Y’ or ‘Yes’ to 67587.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf





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Man and 2 children dead after fire, gunshots inside Kansas City home

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Man and 2 children dead after fire, gunshots inside Kansas City home


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Police are investigating after officers found a man and two juveniles dead inside a Northland house.

Someone called Kansas City police and asked officers to check on the people living inside a house in a neighborhood northwest of Route 152 and US 169 around 9:45 p.m. Thursday.

Officers arrived at the house and smelled smoke. They also noticed a fire burning inside the house.

They called the Kansas City Fire Department and then entered the house to search for anyone inside. They made the decision to evacuate because of the threat of the fire.

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ALSO READ: 3rd fatal shooting in just over 2 months reported near Kansas City grocery store

After firefighters extinguished the flames, police reentered the home. Inside they found a man and a girl dead from gunshot injuries.

They also found a boy suffering from gunshot injuries. Emergency crews rushed him to a hospital where he died from his injuries.

Detectives are working to determine what happened leading up to the shootings. They said they are not looking for a suspect, but have not provided any other details about what may have happened.

ALSO READ: $7.5K reward offered for information about fatal shooting of Missouri canines

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The names of the people killed have not been publicly released.



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