6 Chiefs Already on Thin Ice in Training Camp

It's still early but there's already a lot of information coming out of the Kansas City Chiefs training camp. We got to see Xavier Worthy haul in a deep touchdown catch from Patrick Mahomes but then he missed a couple of days due to an illness.

Justin Watson joined him on the sideline when he suffered a foot injury. Thankfully, he isn't expected to miss much time but even if he does, this offense looks far more competent than they did one year ago. That's a scary prospect considering they won their second Super Bowl in a row with a far less explosive collection of playmakers.

We've also seen players moving up — and down — the depth chart as players fight for their spot on the 53-man roster. With that in mind, here's a look at six players who are already on thin ice.

6. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Running Back

A first-round pick from LSU in the 2020 NFL Draft, Clyde Edwards-Helaire lost his job to Isiah Pacheco in 2022. He was used sparingly last season, recording just 223 yards on the ground and 188 through the air. That made it a little surprising when he was re-signed to a one-year deal in the offseason.

That contract isn't structured in a way that guarantees him a spot and after the first few practices, it's looking as though he might be in danger.

Kansas City has been turning to Deneric Prince as the RB2, even giving him first-team reps when Pacheco was sidelined. Prince hasn't let the team down either as he's been an early standout. That might be all it takes for Edwards-Helaire to be forced out.

5. Nic Jones, Cornerback

A seventh-round pick from Ball State in 2023, Nic Jones was able to suit up for nine games as a rookie. He was also out there for all four playoff games. Heading into his second season, there were hopes he could fight for a starting spot as the nickel corner but after the first few days of camp, he's already fallen behind.

Jones hasn't been bad but the issue for him is that he hasn't stood out either. That's less than ideal since there have been several other cornerbacks who are making a stronger impression.

That includes Chamarri Conner, who appears to have the slot position locked up. Jones could still make the 53-man roster but that won't be easy after the strides Kelvin Joseph and Kamal Hadden have made.

Hadden is a rookie sixth-round pick from Tennessee, who was considered a steal that late in the draft. He's been holding his own in coverage thus far in camp, which isn't surprising to anyone who watched him with the Vols. Joseph, on the other hand, has been an unexpected standout.

A second-round pick out of Kentucky in 2021, Joseph wasn't able to live up to his potential with the Dallas Cowboys. They traded him to the Miami Dolphins in 2023, who wound up releasing him in November. Joseph finished the season with the Seattle Seahawks before signing with Kansas City this year. At 24 years of age, he can still turn things around and he might not be on the way to doing just that.

4. Irv Smith, Jr., Tight End

There was a time when Irv Smith, Jr. was supposed to be a star in the NFL. The Alabama tight end went off during his final season in Tuscaloosa, hauling in 44 receptions for 710 yards with seven touchdowns. He then had a strong showing at the NFL Combine which led to the Minnesota Vikings selecting him 50th overall in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Smith still had doubters due to his size (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) but was impressive as a rookie. He finished with 311 yards and two touchdowns on 36 receptions. Not only is it a tough transition to go from college to the pros for tight ends (who have to be part wideout and part offensive tackle) but Smith was also playing across from Kyle Rudolph, who had more passes thrown his way.

In year two, he had another strong performance with 365 yards and five touchdowns on 30 receptions. Again, not earth-shattering numbers but he showed promise.

Unfortunately, he then missed all of 2021 after tearing his meniscus and part of 2022 due to an ankle injury. He then headed to free agency on the heels of a frustrating campaign and landed with the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith struggled in his lone campaign in Cincy, averaging just 6.4 yards per catch.

This year, he agreed to a one-year deal with the Chiefs — which seemed to be a great fit. If anyone could get the most out of the athletic tight end, it would be Andy Reid.

Again, it's early in camp but Smith has yet to make a mark. In all fairness to him, he hasn't been bad — he just hasn't been noticeable. Throw in the fact that Jared Wiley has stood out and Smith is already in danger.

3. Wanya Morris, Offensive Tackle

When the Chiefs decided not to re-sign Donovan Smith, it meant Wanya Morris would be given the first crack at the left tackle position.

A third-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2023 (he also spent time at Tennessee), Morris appeared in 14 games with four starts as a rookie. He logged 339 snaps on offense and while he wasn't elite, he displayed enough promise that the coaching staff believed he deserved a shot to be a full-time starter.

Of course, they weren't going to just hand him the job. Morris was going to have to earn it and that's where Kingsley Suamataia comes in. A second-round pick out of BYU, Suamataia is an impressive 6-foot-5 and 326 pounds. He has the tools to be a long-term starter and in many draft classes, he might have been a late first-round selection. With this class being loaded at the position, he was there at pick No. 63.

Even with his arrival, Morris was expected to get the first crack at the left tackle spot but that wasn't the case when the Chiefs took the field for their first padded practice. Instead, it was the rookie protecting the blindside of Patrick Mahomes.

There's still a lot of time before Week 1, so Morris can make up the ground. But seeing Suamataia ahead of him this early isn't promising. The plan was for Suamataia to eventually develop into the position, so if he's already doing well enough to push Morris down the depth chart, that's not likely to change in the future.

2. Kadarius Toney, Wide Receiver

Even before they met up for the 2024 training camp, Kadarius Toney was on Kansas City's roster bubble — and he likely needed a strong showing to prove the Chiefs should give him one more season with the franchise.

Toney, a first-round pick out of Florida in 2021, began his career with the New York Giants. He was traded during his second season in the league as Kansas City was willing to give him a fresh start. They believed he had the talent to succeed — and since he didn't have much experience at receiver during his time with the Gators, they were willing to be patient.

During the past two years with the Chiefs, he's had some flashes. He recorded a 65-yard punt return in their Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles. One of their brightest stars in that game, Kansas City had high hopes that Toney would use that performance as a springboard to get his career rolling.

That wasn't the case as he had just 6.3 yards per reception in 2023. Despite his struggles, he still believes he's a No. 1 wide receiver.

As frustrating as it is for fans to watch, his teammates might be getting annoyed as well. On Thursday, Toney was involved in a scuffle with George Karlaftis after the defensive end hit him hard. Travis Kelce came to Toney's defense but it's another poor sign for Toney who could use some positive news for a change — rather than always being involved in something negative.

1. Skyy Moore, Wide Receiver

When the Kansas City Chiefs traded wideout Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, it left them with a lot of questions about the position. They hoped to have answered some of those by selecting Skyy Moore at No. 54 overall in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Western Michigan product gave them a crisp route runner with strong hands and a wide catch radius. He wasn't a sure-fire prospect though since he didn't play against elite competition regularly and struggled to create separation. The hope was they could develop him in the slot and allow his quickness to turn him into a trusted weapon for Patrick Mahomes. Through two seasons, that hasn't been the case.

Moore enters his third year with just 43 receptions for 494 yards with one touchdown. His efficiency wasn't good as a rookie as he caught 66.7 percent of his targets, going for 7.6 yards for every pass that went his way. In 2023, those numbers fell as he caught 55.3 percent of his targets for 6.4 yards per attempt.

It's early in camp but so far, Moore hasn't gotten off to a better start in 2024. On Friday, he had a rough showing and dropped a ball in the end zone after taking a hit.

Kansas City brought back Mecole Hardman, who was the Super Bowl hero last year. His presence means Moore can't afford to make too many mistakes. That's why this rough start is a problem for him.

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