Chiefs-Jaguars: 5 winners and three losers in NFL preseason Week 1

The excellent news: your Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are again on the sphere to start out the 2024 preseason. Extra excellent news: the result of preseason video games doesn’t matter. On Saturday evening, the Jacksonville Jaguars dealt the Chiefs a 26-13 highway loss of their preseason opener.

The sport’s most consequential final result often is the harm sustained by broad receiver Hollywood Brown whereas he was making his first reception as a Chief. We’ll be anxiously awaiting updates from what head coach Andy Reid described as sternoclavicular joint dislocation.

Within the meantime, we are able to take some hints from what we noticed on the sphere. Kansas Metropolis’s first- staff offense was in a position to transfer the ball fairly effectively. A number of operating backs discovered success on the bottom — and a number of other receivers made performs. However the protection and particular groups have been much less spectacular general. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit struggled to deal with and canopy, whereas particular groups coach Dave Toub’s guys regarded unprepared for the brand new kickoff guidelines.

We shouldn’t overreact to any positives (or negatives) in a preseason sport. However let’s think about just a few Chiefs who stood out.

Winners

Fullback Carson Steele: The most effective storyline of this preseason sport is the emergence of the undrafted free agent from UCLA. Steele led the Chiefs in speeding, operating by (and over) Jacksonville defenders for a landing. That capped off an excellent day that included a game-long 20-yard run. Already a fan favourite, he’s caught the attention of the teaching employees. If the season began right this moment, we might affirm {that a} fullback is as soon as once more a part of Kansas Metropolis’s offense — and Carson Steele was constructed for the job.

Large receiver Justyn Ross: On a second-and-13, quarterback Chris Oladokun lofted a move from his personal finish zone. Moss — excuse me, I imply Ross — turned in a 23-yard toe-tapping catch on the sideline. Sure… perhaps we’re falling for it once more. However Ross continues to be an intriguing go-up-and-get-it receiver — and he’s the one one on the roster. Certain… it was just one catch. However it reminds us of Ross’ expertise — and why the Chiefs are nonetheless attempting to get him on the sphere.

Receiver/returner Nikko Remigio: It could be that Ross received’t be the toughest venture receiver to chop. Remigio led the staff in receiving — and had a pleasant 31-yard kick return, too. Many felt he made a compelling case for himself throughout final season’s coaching camp — and he’s constantly been robust throughout this one. Receivers on the backside of the depth chart must contribute on particular groups — and sturdiness doesn’t harm, both. If it comes all the way down to Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney or Remigio, who would you slightly see on September’s 53-man roster?

Security Jaden Hicks: The steal of the draft was additionally Saturday evening’s defensive standout. The secondary had loads of struggles, however Hicks positive regarded like he belonged. He made his presence felt with some large hits — together with a deal with for loss. It’s early, however all indicators level to Kansas Metropolis’s entrance workplace hitting on one other defensive again within the draft’s fourth spherical.

Left deal with Kingsley Suamataia: At this level: the symptoms couldn’t be clearer: the Chiefs have discovered their left deal with. For a person his measurement, Suamataia strikes extremely effectively; he had some robust reps in move safety. However the clearest sign of the evening was that he performed solely six offensive snaps. He left the sphere with the remainder of the locked-in offensive starters.

Losers

Working again Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Whereas the previous first-round decide has lately missed some follow time, his position because the staff’s No. 2 operating again appeared safe. However recently, Deneric Prince has been approaching, giving the staff an alternative choice. Prince was one in all three Chiefs operating backs to interrupt off a carry of 10 yards or extra on this sport — whereas Edwards-Helaire had two carries for no yards. With Steele’s breakout efficiency, different gamers could be crowding Edwards-Healire out of the operating again room.

Receiver/returner Mecole Hardman: The broad receiver room can be crowded, so special-teams potential will matter. On a kickoff, Hardman made a giant psychological error by taking a ball into the top zone and downing it. A very unforced security is worse than most dropped passes and fallacious routes. It’s the kind of play that stands out in an in any other case meaningless preseason sport. The 2023 season was stricken by broad receiver errors. It’s one factor the Chiefs don’t need to repeat.

Linebacker Leo Chenal: In his second season, the previous Wisconsin Badger has been approaching robust — and Kansas Metropolis has cleared his path to a much bigger position by permitting Willie Homosexual, Jr. to depart free company. However Saturday evening wasn’t Chenal’s finest exhibition. On a couple of event, he regarded slightly misplaced in area as Jacksonville picked on him in protection. He was additionally one of many major causes the Jaguars broke their first kick return for 74 yards; Chenal appeared to be uncontrolled and was unable to make the deal with. He’ll have higher video games in 2024, however his efficiency on Saturday was sufficient to boost some considerations about his limitations.