Chiefs Coach Claims Fan-Favorite's Teammates Let Him Down in Debut

Kansas City Chiefs wideout Nikko Remigio finally got to realize his NFL dreams when he made his debut against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14. With fellow receiver Mecole Hardman out of the lineup with a knee injury, Sunday was the ex-Fresno State product's first chance to show Chiefs fans what he was capable of.

The Chiefs eventually picked up a 19-17 win over the Chargers, however, Remigio didn't make much of an impact during the victory. He was limited to nine special teams snaps and didn't pull off any mind-blowing returns, leaving the Kansas City fanbase to wonder if it had overhyped the 25-year-old specialist.

Since the Week 14 clash, though, one Chiefs coach made it clear that the uneventful debut wasn't Remigio's fault.

Chiefs News: Dave Toub Defends Nikko Remigio

On Thursday, Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub discussed Remigio's NFL debut, stating that the other special teams contributors must do a better job of supporting the Orange, CA native.

"(Remigio) did a really good job... good decisions," Toub told A to Z Sports' Charles Goldman. We've got to do a better job of blocking for him."

Toub didn't stop there. The The 62-year-old special teams guru made it clear that Remigio was completely prepared for his first taste of NFL action, whether it went as planned or not.

"(Remigio) practices hard and he was prepared mentally for this," Toub said.

In last week's debut, Remigio returned a total of three punts for 34 yards, averaging just 11.3 yards per return. That performance is even more disappointing when you consider that one of those returns was for 21 yards, meaning he averaged just 6.5 yards on the other two attempts.

Additionally, Remigio averaged 26.0 yards on two kick returns. For comparison, Hardman has been averaging 10.2 and 26.4 yards on his punts and kicks, respectively, this season.

Nevertheless, the fact that Toub has stuck up for Remigio likely means the Chiefs haven't given up on him just yet. The former All-Mountain West receiver has been in Kansas City since he went unselected in the 2023 draft and it's clear that the coaching staff has a soft spot for him in their hearts.

With Hardman sidelined until Week 18 at best, Reimigio will likely be given another chance at the returning job against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The 5-foot-9 returner gained a lot of support from Chiefs fans during the summer when he averaged 33.3 yards per kick and 21.0 yards per punt across three preseason contests.

There should be plenty of opportunities for Remigio to bounce back this weekend. The Browns are averaging an NFL-worst 5.3 punts per game while also conceding the second-most punt return yards in the league.

If that isn't promising enough, FanDuel Sportsbook is currently listing the Chiefs as the 4.5-point road favorite over the Browns in a game that's projected to feature 43.5 points.

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