Chiefs Coach Addresses Returner Concerns After Near-Disaster vs. Texans

The Kansas City Chiefs got a huge boost from their special teams unit to start last week’s game against the Houston Texans.

Second-year wide receiver Nikko Remigio had an electrifying 63-yard kickoff return on the first play of the game, which also included a fumble that the Chiefs thankfully recovered. Remigio’s return put Kansas City’s offense in great field position, but Patrick Mahomes and the offense couldn’t capitalize on it, as the Texans’ defense held them to a field goal.

Remigio has been Kansas City’s primary kick and punt return specialist over the past several weeks after veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman sustained a knee injury. There was hope that Hardman would return sometime during the playoffs, but it doesn’t look like that will be the case.

Therefore, the Chiefs will lean on Remigio to give them some juice on special teams and take care of the football.

Chiefs News: KC Growing Confident in Nikko Remigio

On Thursday, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub was asked about Remigio and gave a vote of confidence to the young wide receiver.

“Every week we’re getting more and more confident in him at punt return and kick return,” Toub said (h/t Charles Goldman of AtoZ Sports).

The Chiefs hope Remigio doesn’t have another fumble in this weekend’s game against the Buffalo Bills, as Kansas City might not be so lucky. That said, as the young receiver/return specialist showed last week, he can flip field position, which will be a huge boost for Mahomes and Kansas City’s offense.

During the regular season, Remigio averaged 9.4 yards per punt return (11 returns) and 26.8 yards per kick return (11) in five games. Hardman was handling return duties when the Chiefs and the Bills faced off for the first time this season in Week 11.

Without the experienced vet, Remigio hopefully gets a few opportunities in the return game on Sunday to make a play.

More Chiefs news and analysis: