Chiefs Dave Merritt shares insight into the second starting cornerback competition

The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into their second preseason game this Saturday with plenty of eyes on their secondary.

Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt has worked with all the defensive backs throughout offseason workouts and training camp. He spoke with reporters after Wednesday’s practice about his aligned vision with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in the search for a second starting cornerback.

“Same thing, you want a guy to step up,” said Merritt. “I mean, 35-Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams have played a lot of football for us. Nazeeh Johnson, of course, is coming back from a knee injury, but you want someone to step up and be able to claim that position and not have a guy rotating and always looking over his shoulder, and so, but we’re looking for the same thing, i echo what Spags (Steve Spagnuolo) said.”

Merritt believes every defensive back in the secondary will be utilized anyway, but having a foundation set of two starters in personnel is essential.

“We have a great thing going here because, you know, the Fab Five, all those guys have played a lot,” said Merritt. “So with 35 and 2, Josh and Jaylen, either guy that goes in there and starts for us, you have to understand, we normally play six DBs on the field, sometimes five, because the NFL puts out three wide receivers, and so these both guys are starters anyway,” said Merritt. “So we (are) really just talking about base personnel when it’s just two wide receivers in the game.”

The following two preseason games will be critical in the coaches’ assessment of the secondary. Merritt’s mentions of Watson and Williams at cornerback indicate where he might be leaning decision-wise.