The Kansas City Chiefs are getting ready for their final preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Aug. 22. After that game, the team will quickly turn their attention to 53-man roster cuts, where HC Andy Reid says there'll be some tough decisions ahead.
“There’s going to be some tough moves," Reid said. "That’s why I like to give them some extended play and just see where we’re at. Maybe there’s a divider in there where something shows up. There’s good competition in really all those roles, but there’s some great competition. We’ll see how they do.”
Some of those tough decisions will inevitably come down to special teams, as they often have in the past in Kansas City. Chiefs special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Dave Toub downplays his role in 53-man roster construction, but he has a strong voice in the room when it comes to his special teams unit. The players who excel on special teams are those who have the advantage.
Asked how he'd envision his kickoff return depth chart, without divulging too much, he went into what it could look like. In doing so, he named an underdog receiver who he says he'll be pounding the table for when those discussions take place.
"I don't know," Toub began. "It could be Mecole (Hardman). Nikko (Remigio) did a great job. I'll be pounding the table for that guy. I love him. (Carson) Steele, he looks good back there. He gets it north and south, he'll be able to block. He's a guy you could use as a backup running back, somewhere. Maybe (Deneric) Prince. You need bigger guys like that, who can block too back there. You can't just have two punt returners back there, I don't think."
It's not exactly a shock that Toub feels this way about Remigio. He previously impressed the coach leading up to training camp . He's also not the only coach with strong statements about Remigio this offseason.
Hardman and Remigio were both listed on the team's initial depth chart as punt and kick returners. They remain the top players with Xavier Worthy getting pulled from return specialist duties in Hollywood Brown's absence.
Steele and Prince getting involved here could definitely shake some things up. It could cause a roster crunch at other positions, for instance, the tight end position. If you carry both Steele and Prince on the 53-man roster, that could cause you to only carry three tight ends on the 53-man roster.
As Andy Reid said, tough decisions await. I wouldn't envy the job ahead for Chiefs GM Brett Veach.
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