Chiefs Training Camp: Andy Reid to use first 2 games to decide WR room

There is no hiding that the Kansas City Chiefs have one of those good problems at the back end of their wide receiver room. Frankly, there are too many candidates.

Last year, that good problem led Kansas City to keep seven receivers at the 53-man roster deadline. That was the first time head coach Andy Reid had done that since arriving in Kansas City in 2013. In my first roster projection for 2024, I duplicated this change — but as training camp carries on, I find it could be trending back to the norm of a six-receiver minimum.

Fullback hopeful Carson Steele has come on, and Deneric Prince’s usage as the second running back has dictated that Reid and general manager Brett Veach could keep Steele and three running backs, including Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. In addition, Kansas City could be tempted to keep a fourth tight end — Irv Smith Jr. — or as many 10 offensive linemen.

So where do the Chiefs stand at receiver?

The consensus among reporters is that there are four wide receivers locked into 53-man roster spots: Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson.

Reasonably speaking, that leaves five legitimate candidates — Mecole Hardman, Skyy Moore, Nikko Remigio, Justyn Ross and Kadarius Toney — for likely two (or perhaps three) spots.

“We tell the guys, ‘Make it as hard as you can on us when it comes to that time,’” said Reid after practice on Monday. “Not everybody’s going to make the team, but make it tough on us. And so, they’ve got time to do that. With this schedule, that’s one of the benefits. They have time to do that, [to] show us what [they’ve] got.”

Hardman and Remigio have upside as returners, while Moore has continued to rotate in with the first team. In this camp, Toney is profiling more as a weapon in the backfield and out in space than any single position, and Ross showed well over the past week as a potential red-zone option.

Important looks to come

There has been a lot of time this offseason for them to prove their worth, but their most important days will be this Saturday, when the Chiefs visit the Jacksonville Jaguars in their first preseason game — and then the Saturday to follow, as the Chiefs host the Detroit Lions on August 17.

Reid was forthright with reporters, saying he and the coaching staff hope to have position numbers locked down following that look against the Lions. Don’t be stunned if the head coach makes a couple of tough early decisions so his players have a leg up in catching on with other teams.

Injury report

• Returned to practice: WR Kadarius Toney (ankle)
• Out of practice (due to injury): LB Nick Bolton (elbow since 7/31), CB Kelvin Joseph (hamstring since 8/1), WR Jaaron Hayek (shoulder since 8/4)
• Non-football injury (NFI) list: S Justin Reid (out with quad since 7/21), DL BJ Thompson (non-football injury since 7/21)
• Physically unable to perform (PUP) list: DT Derrick Nnadi (out with triceps since 7/21), DL Charles Omenihu (out with ACL since 7/21)

Post of the day

Our John Dixon compiled all of Monday’s posts here. Here is the post of the day:

Suamataia continues to track for the starting left tackle position.

Quote of the day

Punter Matt Araiza on choosing Kansas City when he was a free agent: “I mean, where else would you want to be? Honestly, that’s what it comes down to.”

What’s next?

The Chiefs return to the practice field Tuesday for a workout at 9:15 a.m. Arrowhead Time. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will address the media following the practice as offensive and defensive linemen sign autographs.

Here’s the complete 2024 training camp schedule.