QB Patrick Mahomes saw only six plays of action in the Kansas City Chiefs’ preseason opener on Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, much like he did the previous year.
The decision by head coach Andy Reid to just use rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia for six snaps was also one of his more intriguing choices.
Suamataia, who is supposed to cover the quarterback’s blind side, and Mahomes both performed admirably. Suamataia had a few good snaps against the Jaguars’ top pass rusher, Josh Hines-Allen, and Mahomes was not hit on his lone drive.
The Chiefs learned the following important lessons from Saturday’s 26–13 victory over the Jaguars.
Brown could miss the season opener
Suamataia and the other anticipated starters only played six snaps, maybe as a result of what occurred to wide receiver Marquise Brown.
The Chiefs suffered their first significant injury of the 2024 season on their opening snap. According to Reid, Brown exited Saturday’s game with a left shoulder injury that damaged his collarbone. Before the game concluded, he was transferred to a hospital for additional assessment.
According to Reid, Brown is thought to have suffered a sternoclavicular dislocation, the same ailment that former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered on the team’s opening day versus the Jaguars in September 2019.
Brown’s injury may necessitate surgery, thus he will not likely be available for the Chiefs’ September 5 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Four to six weeks are typically needed for a full recovery following the operation. Hill missed four games and thirty-four days in total before making a comeback in 2019.
“I think he’ll miss some time,” Reid said of Brown. “We’ll just see where it’s at. We’re kind of going through it right now. We’ll know more later on.”
Steele steals show
Of the players vying for a spot on the Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster, Carson Steele, the undrafted rookie fullback, emerged as the clear winner.
Even Steele’s first NFL play was noteworthy. He broke three tackles and gained 20 yards on the ground in the second quarter, a play that was reminiscent of former six-time Pro Bowler Mike Alstott. Positive yards were gained by Steele each time he made contact with the ball. One such instance was a 5-yard gain in which he broke a tackle close to the line of scrimmage. On four attempts, he finished with a team-high 29 rushing yards.
Carson Steele looking like the man of steel on this run 💪 @chiefs
— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
📺: #KCvsJAX on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/epitOuT7vP
“He started off like gangbusters,” Reid said of Steele. “I thought he played well.”
The Chiefs’ 16-play drive culminated in fourth-and-goal from the Jaguars’ 1-yard line, which presented Reid with the ideal opportunity to assess Steele in a short-yardage scenario. When Steele crossed the boundary line for the rushing score, he was greeted with congratulations from a number of teammates, including Mahomes and running back Isiah Pacheco.
Steele did not block for another ball carrier, but he did assist right tackle Lucas Niang on a Chris Oladokun completion with a great chip block.
Hicks continues to impress
Of the seven rookie class members, Jaden Hicks, a fourth-round pick and safety, has shown himself to be one of the more reliable players during training camp. During camp, he has performed admirably with first-team reps, and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo gave him a prize on Saturday. The only other rookie starter on defense was Hicks.
Hicks had a few standout moments before the break. With three solo tackles in the first half, including one in a one-on-one situation on the periphery below the line of scrimmage, he led the Chiefs. On third-and-10, C.J. Beathard found running back Tank Bigsby with a short pass; Bigsby was tackled by Hicks for a 1-yard loss, forcing the Jaguars to attempt a field goal.
“I thought Hicks stepped up and did a nice job in there,” Reid said. “I liked what I saw. He’s big and he’s fast, and he did a good job on special teams.”
Hicks, covering punt coverage later in the second quarter, made a brilliantly timed diving stop on receiver Austin Trammell. After punter Matt Araiza’s 42-yard boot, Trammell did not gain any yardage.
The only error made by Hicks came during a blitz in the latter seconds of the second quarter. He applied pressure to Beathard, but by striking the quarterback in the helmet with his left forearm, he was called for roughing-the-passer. The play was completed with a 35-yard touchdown for the Jaguars, who took the penalty and moved the ball to the 1-yard line for a successful two-point conversion.
C.J. Beathard throws it up and Devin Duvernay comes down with the TD!
— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
📺: #KCvsJAX on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XgmXwRrCOP
Special teams blunders
It was unexpected that the Chiefs’ special teams unit had the worst performance. The fact that the Jaguars created the game’s first highlight under the NFL’s new kickoff structure infuriated special teams coach Dave Toub.
Parker Washington, a receiver for the Jaguars, started his return around the 6-yard line. He managed to get away from three different Chiefs on route to a 73-yard return, which is inside the “landing zone,” which is the space between the receiving team’s 20-yard line and goal line.
“We put the defense in a compromised (situation) for the first series,” Reid said.
Parker Washington takes the kickoff back 74 yards!
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
📺: #KCvsJAX on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XpqYhirBvD
The most embarrassing play for Toub’s team came right before halftime when a careless play allowed the Jaguars to score a safety.
Reversing course Deneric As one of the two kick returners, Prince overlooked a crucial regulation. After the ball landed in the end zone behind him, he did not attempt to return the kickoff. However, the ball became a live ball when it bounced back into the field of play after crossing the goal line. The other returner, receiver Mecole Hardman, attempted to assist Prince by snatching the ball at the 1-yard line and taking a knee inside the end zone for what he believed to be a touchback.
But what happens if the ball hits in the end zone but bounces out past the goal line is not made clear in the new rules. The play was later declared a safety for the Jaguars by the referees, who made the proper call since Hardman knelt with a live ball inside the end zone. When Hardman discovered his mistake on the sidelines close to Toub, he was taken aback.
“I think they’re trying to work that out,” Reid said of the officials. “Normally when the ball goes in the end zone, and you touch it there, then it’s a dead ball. We’ll get it cleared up and see what they come up with.”
Prince ought to have caught the ball and taken a knee for a touchback to guarantee the Chiefs began their possession from the 30-yard line, as opposed to letting it land in the end zone behind him.
The team’s only encouraging play came from receiver Nikko Remigio’s 31-yard kickoff return. Nevertheless, Remigio mishandled a punt close to the sideline early in the third quarter. However, because the ball bounced out of bounds, the play did not result in a turnover.
Injury update
Undrafted rookie guard McKade Mettauer left the game with a left knee injury.
The following players were not in uniform: left guard Joe Thuney (not cleared for full contact), left tackle Wanya Morris (right leg), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (elbow), safety Justin Reid (quad), defensive lineman Chris Jones (shoulder), linebacker Nick Bolton (left elbow), receiver Kadarius Toney (back), and cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson (strained hamstring) and Kelvin Joseph (strained hamstring).
(Photo of Carson Steele: Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today)
