4 things we learned from the Chiefs’ preseason — and 1 we didn’t

On Thursday night, the Kansas City Chiefs finished their preseason schedule with their third straight defeat: a 34-21 home loss to the Chicago Bears.

Here are four things we've learned from the preseason — and one thing we'd still like to learn.

1. Carson Wentz will be a good backup for Patrick Mahomes Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images

Head coach Andy Reid loves to have an established veteran backing up his superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He's always been happy to give young players like Tyler Bray, Jordan Ta'amu, Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun opportunities to develop on his practice squads — but when the chips are down, Reid knows what he wants: an experienced hand to guide his offense.

That's something that previous backups Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert (and even Matt Moore, who filled in for Henne when he was injured in 2019) have all brought to Kansas City.

But Wentz brings more than that: he's a significantly better quarterback, too. Henne claimed a passer rating of 76.1 over his career, while Gabbert recorded a 71.7. Wentz has a career mark of 89.4.

Through 28 snaps in two preseason games, Wentz completed nine passes on 14 attempts for 57 yards and a touchdown. That's a passer rating of 96.4.

That's just what the Chiefs need from him. And the 31-year-old Wentz could end up doing it for quite a while.

2. Carson Steele might be Andy Reid's new fullback prototype Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

For two seasons after fullback Anthony Sherman's retirement in 2021, Michael Burton did the job very well — although he never captured the imagination of the team's fans the way Sherman had. And then — much to our surprise — Reid didn't carry a fullback in 2023.

Could Steele give Reid another chance to have a fullback on his team? He's been a special teams workhorse, returning two kickoffs for 65 yards and making key tackles in coverage. On Thursday night, he even recovered a fumble.

That's precisely what Reid always wanted (and got) from both Sherman and Burton. But it's becoming harder and harder to justify a roster spot for a player whose main job is blocking and being a four-phase special teams player. That doesn't change just because Steele also brings a terrific story.

But he's brought more than special teams ability (and a pet alligator) to the team. On 11 runs, he's gained 7.9 yards per attempt and scored two touchdowns — both of them one-yard carries. So it's possible that in Kansas City, the 6-foot, 228-pound Steele could be a rotational running back who can also perform as a fullback.

Plenty of observers now believe he is a lock to make the roster. Time will tell.

3. Louis Rees-Zammit is still an intriguing athlete Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

It's hard not to root for the 23-year-old Welsh rugby star who is angling to become an NFL player. Like Steele, he brings a great story. Kansas City coaches continue to highlight his athleticism, work ethic and attitude. Under the league's new kickoff rules, his ability to be a kickoff specialist who can also tackle in coverage could be a significant factor.

Here's the trouble: on the field, Rees-Zammit still doesn't look like an American football player. He has difficulty finding a hole or breaking free from NFL defensive linemen. It's not his fault. He's having to be coached to do things that his teammates were taught to do in junior high school — and now do instinctively.

Still, he had six rushing attempts that gained 22 yards in the preseason — and collected 63 yards on two kick returns. Given that he's just learning the game, that's a tribute to his athleticism.

But will that be enough for Rees-Zammit to make the Kansas City roster? Probably not. The good news is that he probably hasn't shown enough that he is likely to be poached from the Chiefs' practice squad. (Don't forget: for that to happen, the other team has to carry him on its active roster for three weeks). If the team believes he has the potential to become an NFL player, that's where he belongs.

4. It was the Chiefs' turn to lose a significant player in the preseason Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

Every year, big NFL stars go down from preseason injuries. 2024's headliner is the Minnesota Vikings' rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The 10th overall pick of April's NFL Draft tore the meniscus of his right knee during Minnesota's preseason opener. He's expected to miss the entire season.

In recent years, though, the Chiefs have been fairly lucky. When wide receiver Hollywood Brown went down with a shoulder injury on the opening offensive snap of the exhibition season, it was probably the worst preseason loss the team has suffered since Henne fractured his ankle during an exhibition game in 2019.

While the free-agent wideout is widely expected to be a big contributor this season, his injury isn't nearly as serious. He's expected to miss one to three games — which will give first-round rookie Xavier Worthy a chance to make an early impression.

Against the Detroit Lions on Saturday night, he looked like he could.

1. We still can't identify Kansas City's second cornerback Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Ever since Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson were drafted in 2022, the Chiefs have wanted one of them to step forward.

But during their two seasons in Kansas City, they were used situationally. From one week to the next — sometimes from one drive to the next — it was impossible to predict which would be the third cornerback.

Now that L'Jarius Sneed has been traded to the Tennessee Titans, the battle is for the second cornerback spot — and Nazeeh Johnson (another 2022 pick who missed 2023 with an injury) is also part of the conversation.

Unfortunately, all three have missed training camp (and preseason) snaps with injuries. Both Williams and Johnson were among the 32 Kansas City players on the sidelines for Thursday night's game — and Watson didn't turn any heads after missing both preseason games. As Arrowhead Pride's Pete Sweeney has already noted, that puts former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kelvin Joseph in the mix, too.

"We've been doing this for three years," Watson recently reminded reporters. "It's always been healthy competition. We always root for each other's success. Whoever's going to take the spot is gonna be willing of it."

As long as they're healthy enough to get on the field, that is.