Chiefs-Jaguars: 5 winners and 3 losers in NFL preseason Week 1

The excellent news: your Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are again on the sector to begin 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 end result stands out as 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 will take some hints from what we noticed on the sector. Kansas Metropolis’s first- crew offense was in a position to transfer the ball fairly properly. A number of operating backs discovered success on the bottom — and several other receivers made performs. However the protection and particular groups had been much less spectacular general. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit struggled to sort out and canopy, whereas particular groups coach Dave Toub’s guys appeared 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 very best storyline of this preseason sport is the emergence of the undrafted free agent from UCLA. Steele led the Chiefs in dashing, operating by way of (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 now, we may verify {that a} fullback is as soon as once more a part of Kansas Metropolis’s offense — and Carson Steele was constructed for the job.

Vast 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… possibly 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 making an attempt to get him on the sector.

Receiver/returner Nikko Remigio: It could be that Ross gained’t be the toughest challenge receiver to chop. Remigio led the crew 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 persistently been sturdy throughout this one. Receivers on the backside of the depth chart need to contribute on particular groups — and sturdiness doesn’t harm, both. If it comes right down to Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney or Remigio, who would you relatively 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 appeared like he belonged. He made his presence felt with some huge hits — together with a sort out 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 sort out Kingsley Suamataia: At this level: the indications couldn’t be clearer: the Chiefs have discovered their left sort out. For a person his dimension, Suamataia strikes extremely properly; he had some sturdy reps in move safety. However the clearest sign of the evening was that he performed solely six offensive snaps. He left the sector with the remainder of the locked-in offensive starters.

Losers

Operating again Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Whereas the previous first-round choose has lately missed some follow time, his function because the crew’s No. 2 operating again appeared safe. However currently, Deneric Prince has been approaching, giving the crew an alternative choice. Prince was one in every of 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 tip zone and downing it. A totally unforced security is worse than most dropped passes and incorrect routes. It’s the kind of play that stands out in an in any other case meaningless preseason sport. The 2023 season was affected by broad receiver errors. It’s one factor the Chiefs don’t wish to repeat.

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