As expected, the Kansas City Chiefs held out most of their starters in the preseason opener. Notably, that might be the case in the following weeks, too, and it's hard to believe they'll ever consider suiting up Patrick Mahomes for these games.
However, that doesn't mean the preseason is meaningless. The Chiefs are looking for a spark, and the preseason gives the younger players and the roster-bubble guys the perfect opportunity to show what they can do.
That's why, despite a tough loss to the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Andy Reid was actually quite upbeat. Following the game, he had nothing but praise for rookie playmakers Cyrus Allen and Emmett Johnson.
Chiefs rookies shine in preseason loss to Rams
"He's been doing well at camp before he got hurt," Reid said of rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen. "And then when he's come back here for the couple of days he was back, it looked like he picked right up from there. I thought he did a nice job for the most part there on catching the football and route running — he's got some quickness to him. I look forward to getting him healthy and ready to go."
Cyrus Allen's final stat line may not necessarily pop at first glance, but the tape says otherwise. He would've had an easy touchdown if Garrett Nussmeier had put a bit more air into a throw, and an offensive pass interference by Jaylen Royals also erased a big play by the fifth-round rookie.
Allen finished the night with two receptions on five targets for 20 yards, including an acrobatic catch late in the first half, making an impressive mid-air adjustment to secure a sailed and somewhat erratic pass to convert on a third-and-eight.
Notably, Reid also had plenty of praise for rookie running back Emmett Johnson. He's been turning heads in training camp, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him climb the ladder and become Kenneth Walker III's primary backup.
“He did a nice job with it, and ran hard and aggressive. Had some yards after contact there, which is a big thing, so he’s one of the positives coming out of this. Thought he did a nice job. He’s got a good feel, he's patient and then when he hits it, he hits it hard. He’s got a toughness to him there so I know the offensive lineman there appreciate that,” Reid said.
The fifth-round selection paced the team with 12 carries for 59 yards, adding three receptions for 10 yards. His ability to make an impact in the passing game might spell trouble for 2025 draft pick Brashard Smith, the incumbent pass-catching back in Kansas City.
Ultimately, the preseason isn't about wins or losses. This is the perfect time to test things out, make mistakes, and, in turn, make adjustments. It also gives the rookies their first taste of NFL action before it actually counts.
It's still way too early to tell, and the Chiefs' first-team offense will obviously look much different and — hopefully — significantly more efficient. Even so, the fifth-round rookies seemed to carry their strong training camp momentum into the preseason, and they're endearing themselves to the greatest offensive play-caller in NFL history.
Whether they have a big role come Week 1 remains to be seen, but they're clearly trending in the right direction.
Add us as a preferred source on Google