Unsung Kansas City Chiefs defender wreaked havoc during Thursday's season opener vs. Ravens

A Chiefs defender who you might not pay much attention to made a big impact in Kansas City's win over the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.

Fifth-year defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton was dominant in the trenches. The stat sheet may only show that he had three total tackles, but Wharton was driving offensive lineman backwards and making quarterback Lamar Jackson uncomfortable all night. Brandon Thorn of Bleacher Report captured many of Wharton's highlights on X.

Even when Baltimore double teamed Wharton he was still getting a great push, and it opened things up for other Chiefs pass rushers. He forced Jackson to throw multiple incompletions and take off running before he was ready. Wharton was also making plays at defensive end, showing some good speed and bend off the edge.

Our Charles Goldman named Wharton as a player who could be a game-changer against the Ravens, and he nailed it on the head. Wharton's development is a big boost to K.C.'s defensive line, which had depth concerns entering the season. Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen stated that Wharton had a dominating training camp, which is translating to the field.

Wharton signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs during the offseason. He is now almost two years removed from an ACL injury that cost him the majority of the 2022 season. He looks much stronger and more explosive compared to last year and could be primed for his best season yet. Look for Wharton to become a bigger piece of K.C.'s defensive line rotation in 2024.

Related: Chiefs found the answer to their biggest remaining roster question in Week 1 against the Ravens