![[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Kansas City Chiefs safety Jaden Hicks (21) and linebacker Drue Tranquill (23) in action with Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the first half during a NFL game at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_192,w_2574,h_1447/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/220/01k4t5c9y6r7aefjms8z.jpg "[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Kansas City Chiefs safety Jaden Hicks (21) and linebacker Drue Tranquill (23) in action with Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the first half during a NFL game at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images")
The lights of São Paulo were supposed to be a grand stage for a championship encore. Instead, a familiar chill settled over Chiefs Kingdom... the kind that feels an awful lot like a missed tackle in an empty stadium. The new season brings a fresh set of puzzles for Andy Reid's brigade.
And one piece, in particular, seems to be causing some serious friction in the machine.
That puzzle piece is Jaden Hicks. The Chiefs’ 215-pound safety finds himself squarely under the microscope. Hicks had a brutal Week 1 performance against the Chargers. His rough outing was a significant contributor to a defensive effort that looked uncharacteristically lost. And it left many to wonder about his grip on a starting role.
Simply put, Hicks had a night to forget. He was targeted six times, allowing four catches for 49 yards and two critical touchdowns. The first was a brutal blown coverage against the savvy Keenan Allen. The second saw him get shook by Quentin Johnston, a play that ultimately sealed Kansas City’s fate.
This was a far cry from his promising rookie interception leader campaign. The criticism came swiftly, but so did a powerful defense.
Hicks' former mentor, Justin Reid, now with the Saints, took to social media with a strong vote of confidence. “Jaden Hicks is a star in this league,” Reid wrote on September 6. “I’ve seen firsthand what this kid can do. One game does not define any player, coach or team." Reid’s words carry weight, but the reality on the field is stark.
A Long Road Back to Trust
The entire secondary was a cocktail of miscommunication and missed assignments. Hicks wasn't alone, but his errors were glaringly costly. The defense’s visible frustration on the field, chirping at each other as the Chargers ran out the clock, told the whole story.
This is the tough part of the NFL grind. Potential is one thing; week-to-week production is another. Steve Spagnuolo now faces a tough decision. Do they stay the course with Hicks, banking on his development? Or do they shake up the lineup to find a more stable combination before a daunting Eagles matchup?
The path forward is undeniably steep. The Eagles' high-flying offense features A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. They were not at their best in the opener. The duo must be hungry for better production. Hence, they might prove to be a hurricane compared to the Chargers' gust. And there will be no room for hesitation or blown coverages at Arrowhead.
Hicks’ ability to learn from his mistakes will be tested immediately and relentlessly. But this is more than one player’s struggle for the Chiefs.
It’s about the entire defense finding its championship identity again. They must generate a pass rush, communicate flawlessly, and support each other. For Hicks, it’s about proving his mentor right and his critics wrong, one snap at a time.