Kansas City Chiefs get surprising news for Week 1 before it's even officially announced

The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the youngest defenses in the NFL, which has been both a strength and a challenge. This youth movement was highlighted by the departure of several veteran players, which allowed for a significant influx of younger talent.

However, this youth is paired with enough veteran leadership to keep the unit cohesive and effective. That veteran leadership, specifically in the secondary, comes from veteran safety Justin Reid.

Last season, the Chiefs' defense was among the league's best, allowing one of the fewest points per game. This performance was crucial in their playoff run, where they were particularly stingy, marking one of the lowest points per game allowed in the postseason since 2000. But, can the defense pick up where they left off last year without having one of the best cornerbacks in the league in L'Jarius Sneed ?

The Chiefs will be starting off the season with Charles Omenihu out for at least a few weeks, again. Then you add in that Justin Reid could be out, and it looks like that first week against the Baltimore Ravens could be a lot more tougher than expected.

Well, that was the thought initially, and then Reid surprised us all. Initially, there was a thought that Reid could miss Week 1, but it wasn't certain. Andy Reid never said that Justin Reid would miss Week 1, he only mentioned that Hollywood Brown may miss Week 1. But, as we said, there was a thought.

On Monday, Justin Reid took to Twitter to let a fan know that he will indeed be playing in Week 1 on Thursday Night Football against the Ravens.

He was placed on the non-football injury list with a quad issue, which was initially described as day-to-day. This injury occurred early in the camp, leading to speculation about the severity and his potential availability for the start of the season.

While youth brings energy and potential, it can also lead to inconsistency and mistakes, especially in high-pressure situations. With key players like L'Jarius Sneed moving on, there might be concerns about depth at certain positions, although this has been mitigated by the draft and free agency moves. That's one of the many reasons why Reid is so important to this defense. He's the leader of the secondary.

Related: Chiefs rookie Jaden Hicks earning veteran S Justin Reid's stamp of approval by going the extra mile