This room has been surprisingly interesting this camp, stemming from the quad injury that has cost Jody Fortson more than a week of practices. Tight ends (4): Travis Kelce, Jody Fortson, Noah Gray, Blake Bell I wonder what a strong preseason may do for the conversations about him in the Chiefs’ decision room. Something to note here: I would say that 2021 fifth-rounder Cornell Powell has had a really strong camp, looking like a much better option than he did all of last year. Even though he’s currently injured, I think the Chiefs stick with Daurice Fountain, whom they preferred over Gordon in last’s year’s playoffs due to his special-teams upside. When Josh Gordon signed with the Chiefs last year, Toub essentially laughed at the idea of him playing special teams - and on offense at camp, he has been too quiet to merit taking up a roster spot on that basis. I had a hunch Justin Watson would make the team since he stood out at organized team activities (OTAs), but I think Toub saying he could be the next Marcus Kemp on special teams has made him a near-lock for this room.

It is just a matter of figuring out which other receivers will make the cut. Let’s be honest: as I said in projection 1.0, we already know JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore are making the team. Wide receivers (6): JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, Daurice Fountain “Coach Reid - he believes in having a fullback - it’s my job to make sure he wants to carry one,” Burton said recently. Andy Reid loves fullbacks, and fullbacks love Andy Reid. Kansas City will attempt to retain Derrick Gore as insurance on their practice squad. Look for a team that loses a running back to injury in one of these initial preseason games coming up this weekend. I still believe the Chiefs will call around and pull a late-preseason “Carlos Hyde” by moving Jones to another club. Jones is a serviceable back who can earn a role with another team. My thought is the Chiefs preferred McKinnon - but in March, signed Jones just in case McKinnon decided go elsewhere. In late July, McKinnon revealed he had offseason surgery, and because of that, he took time to recover as he considered a couple teams. I think that because of the numbers at other positions (my bet is the Chiefs keep six receivers and four tight ends), they can keep McKinnon or Jones - and my money is on McKinnon, who was the Chiefs’ best running back at the end of last year. 2 back with the first team, but Pacheco has seen looks as well. At training camp, returning running back Jerick McKinnon and Ronald Jones have mainly mixed in as the No. The Chiefs’ personnel staff likes the upside of their seventh-round rookie, and special teams coordinator Dave Toub has essentially said the kick-returner job is his to lose. Just as I did in projection 1.0, I maintain the locks for the Chiefs’ running back room are Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Isiah Pacheco. Running backs (3): Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon, Isiah Pacheco Again, cutting Chad Henne would come with a more-than-$3 million cap penalty - and thus far, he has taken every second-team snap at training camp. I continue to believe they try to sneak him on the practice squad. If he shows out as he did last year, the Chiefs may have to keep him. The Cardinals - and 30 other teams - will be watching. He has an opportunity to change my mind in the preseason, when he will get a lot of playing time.

The fact that the Arizona Cardinals tried to poach third-string QB Shane Buchele as they dealt with injuries at the position last year still exists, but I haven’t seen enough from Buechele at training camp to make me think the Chiefs will need to protect him right from the start. As noted in the initial projection, head coach Andy Reid has curbed his tendency of keeping three quarterbacks on the first iteration of the roster in recent years, holding two at the final cut in both 20. No change from projection 1.0 when it comes to quarterbacks. Here we go!ĭenny Medley-USA TODAY Sports Quarterbacks (2): Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne Their first cut - to 85 players - will happen on Tuesday, three days after the game.Īnother cut (to 80) happens on August 23, and the final cut (to 53) happens on August 30.Īs always, my projections are based upon things I’ve seen, heard and hypothesized (Go back and read 1.0 here). Joseph on Wednesday before a padded practice on Thursday, a day off on Friday and their first preseason game (against the Chicago Bears) at Noon on Saturday. The Kansas City Chiefs have a day off from training camp in St.

Chiefs roster 2022