Most of the Kansas City Chiefs’ fans know that the team’s first-round NFL Draft selection — former Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons — is coming back from a patellar tendon tear he suffered in October.
But Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals — taken in the fourth round (133rd overall) — is also working his way back from an October injury. He missed the second half of last season after tearing a deltoid ligament in his foot.
Speaking before the team’s rookie minicamp session on Saturday, Royals declared himself fully recovered.
“I would say it took me a little longer than expected,” he admitted. “It’s probably a very delicate injury — deltoid ligament — and I’m healthy right now. Fully healthy.”
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He was healthy enough for a well-received Senior Bowl week and a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine highlighted by a 4.42-second 40-yard dash. Those performances put him firmly on the draft radar — and Royals is proud of what he was able to do.
“I was recovering during that time,” he confirmed, “so to even go out there and compete with the top guys while still injured? It just shows a lot of effort and grit for me.”
Now, Royals is shifting from draft preparation to learning about his new team.
“It’s a lot more movement aspects and stuff like that,” he said of the transition. “You’re not just running in a straight line. You’re actually running routes or learning plays. The mental aspect comes with that, too.”
A rookie’s difficulty in learning the Chiefs’ offense is well documented — and Royals can attest the reputation is earned.
“It was very complex,” he said of the playbook. “You’re dealing with Andy Reid, so it’s very complex offense.”
To maximize his offensive opportunities in Kansas City, Royals will need to show he can line up in any wide receiver alignment. He’s had some preparation for that.
“I played X last year,” he recalled, “and I felt like that was the majority of the role. Then, as time [went] by and our coach wanted me to [play] in the slot. [He was] just trying to move me around just for occasions like I’d get in the NFL. I can bounce back and forth.”
After checking in to the Combine at six feet and 205 pounds, Royals has an idea what kind of NFL wide receiver he wants to be.
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Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images
“I try to watch everybody,” he explained. “Davante Adams, A.J. Brown — you know, the big receivers. So [I] try to piggyback off what they do — and try to implement it into my game.”
As a rookie, Royals will also need to implement the NFL’s dynamic kickoff rules into his repertoire. Although he returned seven kickoffs for the Aggies last season, he knows things will be completely different in the NFL. With touchbacks now coming out to the receiving team’s 35-yard line, many more return opportunities will be available.
“I saw a little bit of it with the new kickoff,” noted Royals, “and it’s not like the old where everybody runs down and [there’s] just a whole bunch of collisions. So it’s definitely going to be a new change for me, because I’m kind of used to the old-school way.”
Understanding that he has much to learn in a short time, Royals had a specific goal for his first weekend with the team.
“Coming in, competing and learning the offense,” he declared. “I think that’s the biggest thing for me.”
