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Chiefs vs. Texans Snap Counts: What’s the Plan for DeAndre Hopkins?

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Chiefs vs. Texans Snap Counts: What’s the Plan for DeAndre Hopkins?


The Kansas City Chiefs did enough to win against the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, but now it’s time for the reigning back-to-back champions to evaluate Saturday’s win while preparing for the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game.

What surprises came from the Chiefs’ usage of noteworthy players against Houston? A closer look at Kansas City’s snap counts tells several stories worth following.

The Chiefs’ tight end usage was largely par for the course with Travis Kelce recording 76% of Kansas City’s offensive snaps while Noah Gray took 57% and Peyton Hendershot took 27%, though those are season-low numbers for Kelce.

Kelce’s single-game low-percentage mark in 2024 was 77%, while his lowest total snap count number in the regular season was 44. It’s worth noting the slightly decreased workload for Kelce, but KC’s 51 total offensive snaps on Saturday were also a season-low for the Chiefs’ offense with Mahomes at quarterback.

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The wide receiver rotation is where the Chiefs’ personnel usage becomes even more interesting.

Rookie Xavier Worthy led Chiefs receivers by taking 42 of the Chiefs’ 51 offensive snaps (82%). Worthy was also the only Chiefs wide receiver to catch a pass on Saturday. Kelce led KC’s pass catchers with Worthy and Gray in tow.

Meanwhile, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown took 34 snaps (67%) but received two incomplete targets. JuJu Smith-Schuster took 21 reps (41%) and was targeted once. DeAndre Hopkins took just 16 snaps (31%) and also received just one target. Justin Watson received his lightest workload of the season by a wide margin, recording only four snaps (8%). Watson’s previous season-low was his 21-snap day (34%) against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas.

Hopkins’s snap count is also his lowest mark of the season after playing at least 23 snaps in every other game as a Chief. That 23-snap game (32%) was Hopkins’s Chiefs debut.

It’s hard to imagine Hopkins not receiving a larger workload in the AFC championship game, but it would have been hard to envision the veteran getting fewer than 20 snaps in the divisional round. While Watson appears to be largely phased out as the postseason rotation tightens, will Hopkins remain a niche player, or will the game plan evolve for Buffalo?

Cornerback Jaylen Watson took 40 of the Chiefs’ 68 defensive snaps (59%) on Saturday, giving Watson the second-highest workload among Chiefs cornerbacks, trailing only Trent McDuffie (63 snaps, 93%). The Chiefs’ next choice at cornerback was clearly defined as Steve Spagnuolo chose to play Nazeeh Johnson for 34 snaps (50%) while Chris Roland-Wallace took three snaps and Joshua Williams took zero.

Assuming that Watson felt good following Saturday’s showdown, his workload should increase against Buffalo. Still, the Chiefs will need to rely on at least three cornerbacks in coverage on a regular basis. With Chamarri Conner (50 snaps, 74%) back in the slot corner role for the vast majority of his work on Saturday, the Chiefs will likely plan on McDuffie, Watson and Conner staying on the field for the majority of the AFC championship game, while Johnson appears to have the clear upper hand over Williams as the next man up.

The Chiefs’ defensive line controlled much of the divisional round matchup, ending the game with eight sacks of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Defensive end George Karlaftis led Chiefs D-linemen in sacks (three) and snaps taken (58, 85%), with defensive tackle Chris Jones (one sack, 52 snaps, 76%) close behind.

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Mike Danna was next in snaps taken (43 snaps, 63%), just ahead of Tershawn Wharton (39, 57%) and Charles Omenihu (35, 51%). The rotation was rounded out by run-stuffers Mike Pennel (20 snaps, 29%) and Derrick Nnadi (nine snaps, 13%) in addition to second-year end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who recorded a sack on one of his six snaps (9%).

Read More: NFL Announces Refereeing Crew for Chiefs vs. Bills AFC Championship Game





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Sheriff: Carfentanil seized during Kansas drug bust

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Sheriff: Carfentanil seized during Kansas drug bust


MONTGOMERY COUNTY —A series of recent drug arrests lead to taking methamphetamine and fentanyl off the streets in southeast Kansas.

On January 7, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a maroon Mercury Grand Marquis at the intersection of 10th Street and Walnut Street in Independence, Kansas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.

Conrad photo Montgomery Co.

Deputies contacted the driver, identified as Breeanna Conrad of Independence, Kansas, and informed her of the reason for the stop. Deputies developed probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, deputies located more than six (6) grams of methamphetamine, a small amount of cocaine, marijuana, multiple pills, and drug paraphernalia.

Conrad was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, where she was booked on the following charges:• Distribution of methamphetamine• Possession of cocaine• Possession of marijuana• No proof of vehicle insurance• Improper emerging from an alley, private roadway, or building.

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Leach photo Montgomery Co.
Leach photo Montgomery Co.

Later on January 3, 2026, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a Saturn passenger vehicle at the exit ramp from U.S. 400 to U.S. 75 Highway, north of Sycamore, Kansas. The vehicle was occupied by three individuals. Deputies contacted the driver, identified as Heather Leach of Independence, Kansas, and informed her of the reason for the stop.

Norton photo Montgomery Co.
Norton photo Montgomery Co.

Deputies developed probable cause to search the vehicle.D uring the search, deputies located more than nine (9) grams of methamphetamine, more than six (6) grams of suspected carfentanil, pills, and drug paraphernalia. Leach, along with Tyler Norton and Noah Daniel, both of Independence, Kansas, were taken into custody.

Norton photo Montgomery Co.
Norton photo Montgomery Co.

All three were transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and booked on the following charges:Heather Leach• Distribution of fentanyl• Possession of methamphetamine• Possession of drug paraphernalia• Failure to stop or yield at a stop sign• No proof of vehicle insuranceTyler Norton• Distribution of fentanyl• Possession of methamphetamine• Possession of drug paraphernaliaNoah Daniel• Possession of methamphetamine• Possession of a depressant• Possession of drug paraphernalia



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Kansas City man injured after single-vehicle crash Sunday

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Kansas City man injured after single-vehicle crash Sunday


WYANDOTTE COUNTY, Kan. (WIBW) – A Kansas City man was left with minor injuries after a single-vehicle crash Sunday.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log, the crash occurred around 5:50 a.m. in Wyandotte County.

A 2019 GMC Terrain was traveling eastbound on westbound I-70 in the outside shoulder when it struck the end of the concrete bridge railing for 134th Street.

The driver, a 23-year-old man, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

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View the KHP report HERE.



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Kansas Citians hold vigil, protest for Renee Good to get ‘justice’ while demanding ICE reform

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Kansas Citians hold vigil, protest for Renee Good to get ‘justice’ while demanding ICE reform


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Large protests were organized across the country calling for justice for Renee Good, including in Kansas City, where Good lived before her move to Minneapolis.

Because Renee Good once called Kansas City home, locals still consider her one of their neighbors. They want her death to be a turning point in how ICE works.

The gathering began with a vigil as roughly 1,000 protesters honored Renee Good and everyone else who has died in ICE custody or encounters. Reports show that since President Trump took office again, more than 30 people have lost their lives in that category, marking 2025 the deadliest year for the agency in over 20 years.

Hundreds gathered in Kansas City to protest after multiple federal shootings were reported, including the fatal shooting of former community member Renee Good.(KCTV5/Alex Love)

Speakers call for reform

“The killing of Renee Good reminded this country of a hard truth: this system doesn’t just harm immigrants,” one speaker during the vigil said. “It harms the soul of our communities.”

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In attendance was Bradford Bray, an Iraq War veteran who served in the Air Force and Navy from 1995-2005. He said he is furious about how ICE operates.

“It’s the constitution. That’s what we’re fighting for,” Bray said. “It’s the land of laws. These people are not trained. They’ll hire anybody with a signing bonus. If these people are trained, I’m the Pope.”

Hundreds gathered in Kansas City to protest after multiple federal shootings were reported,...
Hundreds gathered in Kansas City to protest after multiple federal shootings were reported, including the fatal shooting of former community member Renee Good.(KCTV5/Alex Love)

Like most in attendance, he disputes arguments by the federal government that Renee Good was trying to run over the ICE agent.

“Even the guy that shot her was filming her and she said I’m not mad at you,” Bray said. “She was pleasant. She was just trying to get out of the way and do the right thing. She was turning her wheels to get out of the way when she was shot.”

March moves through Plaza

After the vigil, most of the crowd turned the protest into a march through the Plaza, spreading the message that killings by federal agents cannot become the norm.

Hundreds gathered in Kansas City to protest after multiple federal shootings were reported,...
Hundreds gathered in Kansas City to protest after multiple federal shootings were reported, including the fatal shooting of former community member Renee Good.(KCTV5/Alex Love)

“I’m a 71-year-old great-grandmother who’s afraid for the future of my great-grandchildren in a country that’s turning fascist,” Terisa Mott said. “Any of them could be grabbed off the streets or shot like they shot that woman.”

Counter-protesters present

Some Trump and ICE supporters, like Scott Watts, were among the crowd. He sent condolences to Renee Good’s family but said he believes illegal immigration should not be tolerated.

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“I spent time at the southern border and I saw thousands of pretty dangerous people being let out of that border,” Watts said. “That are here now and that’s what Trump’s trying to do is protect us.”

Watts carried a sign highlighting American citizens who had been killed by illegal immigrants over the years, including Mollie Tibbetts of Brooklyn, Iowa, who was stabbed to death while jogging in 2018 by Christian Behena Rivera.

“I’m at a loss for words when it comes to stuff like this,” Watts said. “But I’ll stand out here day after day to try to educate people. I don’t want to fight or anything like that. I just want people to realize there’s dangerous people out there and they need to be aware of those people.”

The gathering stayed peaceful, and traffic kept moving smoothly.

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