Five Chiefs Players to Watch Against the Cardinals
The Kansas City Chiefs came storming back a week ago in their preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints, although the team ultimately fell just short. Now, Andy Reid's bunch will look to finish the job against the Arizona Cardinals down in Glendale.
With the NFL's roster cutdown deadline still over a week away, there are many Chiefs players fighting for their football lives both this week and next Saturday when the Cleveland Browns come rolling into town. That applies to end-of-roster candidates, practice squad aces and organizational depth fillers alike. The tape some players put out there in the next two contests will have a significant impact on their immediate futures in the league.
Despite having most of the initial 53-man roster sorted out, Kansas City is still in an evaluation stage of sorts as the preseason rolls on. Let's take a look at five players to keep an eye on as the Chiefs and Cardinals square off.
1. Deneric Prince, RB
Deneric Prince was one of the NFL's most hyped undrafted free agent pickups in the aftermath of the 2023 NFL Draft, and many believed the Chiefs got another hidden gem in the process. With Isiah Pacheco being sidelined due to recovery from shoulder surgery and veteran Jerick McKinnon being a well-known commodity, the rookie got 17 snaps on offense and had an additional nine on special teams against the Saints a week ago. Contrary to the immense buzz surrounding him, though, Prince didn't perform too well.
Carrying the ball four times for 14 yards and returning two kickoffs for just 36 yards, Prince looked a little slow and/or hesitant in his preseason debut. With that debut in the books, all eyes will be on him as he tries to stave off La'Mical Perine and continue to build his case for the (assumed) running back No. 4 job in Kansas City. Prince's pre-draft profile and camp highlights indicate that he can be a solid contributor, and his progress will be a major point of emphasis to watch this week.
2. Justyn Ross, WR
There weren't many Chiefs who had a better afternoon last Sunday than wideout Justyn Ross. Not only did the former Clemson star get targeted five times and run crisp routes all day, but he also scored his first touchdown since way back in 2021 when he was still in college. Ross had a bit of an injury scare during the week but returned to training camp practice the following day, suggesting that the ailment is very minor. How Ross performs in his second preseason game could go a long way as far as locking up a final roster spot is concerned.
3. Matt Bushman, TE
With tight end Jody Fortson going on the injured reserve list and Blake Bell being a vested veteran and not subject to waivers in the event of his release, the Chiefs suddenly find themselves with a much simpler tight end picture than before. That opens up the door for Matt Bushman to make the active roster to start the year, although that's far from a guarantee. Bushman played 36 offensive snaps in last week's loss to the Saints, failing to convert on either of his targets. The BYU product needs a big-time performance against the Cardinals to generate some momentum, and the opportunity is now there for him to do so.
4. Danny Shelton, DT
Seen by many as an afterthought entering camp and the preseason, veteran defensive tackle Danny Shelton surprised just about everyone in New Orleans. Not only did he record two tackles and a sack, but the nine-year veteran looked quicker and lighter compared to his 2022 form. With the Chiefs having a lot of unknown elements impacting their defensive line room right now, can Shelton force his name into the roster conversation with a stellar outing on the eve of his 30th birthday? That would certainly make things even more interesting while Chris Jones continues his holdout and Tershawn Wharton works his way back from a torn ACL.
5. Kahlef Hailassie, CB
Of all the Chiefs' defensive backs, no one stood out more last week than corner Kahlef Hailassie. The undrafted free agent out of Western Kentucky logged 33 defensive snaps (45% of those available) in his first preseason game, recording four tackles and also notching his first career interception in the process. With seventh-round pick Nic Jones dealing with fractured fingers in his left hand, there's a chance that Hailassie will continue to get a serious workload in the second week of the preseason. While it's highly unlikely that he will make the roster, he could cement his status as a prime practice squad candidate with another good game.
