Winners and Losers From Chiefs’ Preseason Opener Against Saints

In the Chiefs' preseason loss to the Saints, multiple players stood out for both good and bad reasons.

The Kansas City Chiefs' came up just short in their 2023 preseason debut against the New Orleans Saints, but there was still plenty to take away from the outing.

Outgaining New Orleans in total net yards (346 to 332) and yards per play (5.9 to 4.8), Kansas City's success was fueled by a terrific second half that saw Andy Reid's offense put up 17 points with reserves on the field. Those efforts ended in heartbreak, however, as a late Chris Oladokun interception allowed the home team to sneak away with a narrow win. 

With so many members of the Chiefs' active roster participating in Sunday's game, numerous players managed to stand out with their performances. Let's highlight some of the top ones, with both positive and negative takeaways as the preseason is now off and running. 

Winners: Leo Chenal and Drue Tranquill

Leo Chenal came on strong and received more and more playing time down the stretch of last season, and he continued that success on Sunday. The second-year man logged three tackles, got a pressure on the game's opening drive and was a very active contributor in run support as well. Tranquill, the new kid on the block but a veteran in his own right, finished second on the team with five tackles and also had a sack. He made a case for more playing time with the first-stringers, which was also a testament to Kansas City's impressive linebacker depth for this season. 

Loser: Nick Bolton

Speaking of the Chiefs' linebacker depth, Nick Bolton is the leader of the group and normally offers sound tackling, an aggressive mindset and mostly steady play. When he was on the field against the Saints, though, things didn't come easily for him. Not only was Bolton a bit hesitant to attack at times, but he also got washed out of too many plays and wasn't quick enough to react while Derek Carr and New Orleans' offense drove down the field. Bolton's track record gives him plenty of wiggle room to have a poor showing in the preseason, but this can't be a hint at things to come. 

Winner: Mike Edwards

When the Chiefs brought in Mike Edwards during the offseason, they likely hoped they were getting a true playmaker for the back end of Steve Spagnuolo's defense. Edwards having his role reduced back to safety No. 3 in 2023 should help him, and he flashed his ball skills and instincts on Sunday. Kansas City's secondary will be better with Edwards in it, and he could help the team improve on its 22nd ranking in takeaways from a season ago. 

Loser: Justin Reid

Much like Bolton, Justin Reid looked slower and less reactive than normal on Sunday. Part of that is expected with preseason play, although the results of the Saints' first two drives amplified the Chiefs' mistakes. Reid, who has recently talked about being more comfortable in Spagnuolo's system, struggled in coverage and wasn't great at tackling either. He'll look to have a better second game this week. 

Winners: Ekow Boye-Doe and Kahlef Hailassie

Ekow Boye-Doe and Kahlef Hailassie, both undrafted free agent signings by Kansas City, saw the field plenty on Sunday and each of them had four tackles. That mark was tied for third on the team, and Hailassie's interception in the third quarter was one of the highlights of the game. With fellow rookie cornerbacks Nic Jones and Anthony Witherstone suffering injuries against the Saints, the door is open for Boye-Doe and Hailassie to keep earning more in-game reps. Those snaps are invaluable, and they passed their first test and are now on many radars as a result. 

Loser: Trent McDuffie 

The only major knock on Trent McDuffie coming out of college was his lack of proper size for a boundary NFL cornerback, with many projecting him as a slot-only corner with capped upside. When lined up against Saints rookie receiver A.T. Perry in the first quarter, that abbreviated length ended up leading to McDuffie allowing the ball to go just past him. Vertical plays will always be a challenge for McDuffie to deal with and while he showed some promise with them as a rookie, his training camp and preseason are showing otherwise so far. 

Winners: Rashee Rice, Justyn Ross and Nikko Remigio

The Chiefs' young wide receivers had a coming out party and made a terrific first impression despite the loss, with the trio of Rashee Rice, Justyn Ross and Nikko Remigio combining for nine receptions, 130 yards and a touchcown. All three players found different ways to stand out on offense, and each of them came out of the game with their respective arrows pointing up. An honorable mention should also go to Richie James, who made a pair of excellent catches and scored a touchdown in the second quarter. 

Loser: Lucas Niang

Sometimes, a player receiving fewer snaps than his peers in the preseason can mean good things for his standing on the team. For Lucas Niang, though, it might spell doom. The veteran backup lineman had — and still has — plenty to prove entering play on Sunday, yet rookie Wanya Morris and fellow vet Prince Tega Wanogho outsnapped him by quite a bit. Niang appeared to be laboring at times when on the field and if he doesn't turn things around and/or get more reps moving forward, the second-team offensive line picture could be shifted a bit. 

Read More: Chiefs React to Justyn Ross Scoring His First Touchdown Since 2021