Kansas City Chiefs: Midterm grades for 2019 season

Linebackers

As recently as Week 6, Darron Lee played more than half the defensive snaps. Since? Two plays against Denver and zero against Green Bay. He’s more of a special teams contributor now. In all likelihood, Lee’s time in Kansas City ends before the 2020 season begins.

He missed most of Week 5 before sitting out Week 6. In Week 7, he played his best game as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, collecting six tackles and two sacks while forcing a fumble that was recovered by a teammate who took it in for a touchdown. Then, against Green Bay, he was torched time after time in coverage by running back Aaron Jones. A mixed bag, is Anthony Hitchens.

He played well against Denver, but my mind’s eye keeps coming back to Aaron Rodgers completing an eight-yard pass to Aaron Jones to close out Sunday night’s game. Covering Jones on that play: Ben Niemann.

Damien Wilson, signed as a free-agent in the offseason, remains the team’s best Damien as well as the team’s best linebacker. In Week 8, he added a little of pass-rush to his resume, nabbing one sack while collecting three QB hits and one tackle for loss. Great signing by Veach, which isn’t something I very often type.

Reggie Ragland‘s been playing well, but hasn’t been playing often. Maybe that’s the key to him playing well recently. In his time on the field, though, he’s stepped it up against the Broncos and Packers. Really hoping he continues his rebound against Minnesota this upcoming weekend.