On Monday, Kansas City’s rookie safety discussed the Jaguars game and showed appreciation for Justin Reid.
Among the few bright spots in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 26-13 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Saturday’s preseason opener was the play of rookie safety Jaden Hicks.
Taken out of Washington State with the 133rd selection in April’s NFL Draft, Hicks played 27 defensive snaps against the Jaguars (47%), totaling three tackles — one of them for a loss.
Speaking after Monday’s practice at the team’s training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Hicks was reasonably happy with how he played.
“I would say I’m content with it,” he said of his performance. “There are some plays that I could have made — still plays to be out there. Overall, I think I did all right.”
Hicks said he needs to keep pushing through and finishing.
“Some plays,” he recalled, “I was getting a little tired, playing on special teams and stuff like that. At the end of the day, [I have to] just keep going straight through the whistle.”
Nathan Ray Seebeck-
Hicks was on the field for 10 special teams snaps, during which he was credited with a second-quarter tackle that held a Jaguars punt return to no yards. He has had to focus on the third phase of the game in his first professional training camp — particularly on the league’s new kickoff rules.
“That’s a bit of an adjustment — with close spacing and stuff like that,” he observed. “Learning all the roles and plays on the defense, that’s going pretty smooth so far. I’m just looking to keep learning from that — and keep going from here.”
While starting safety Justin Reid has been recovering from a quad injury, Hicks has largely been taking starting reps in training camp. But since Reid came off the Chiefs’ Active/NFI (non-football injury) list on Monday, Hicks will likely take a back seat to the veteran in upcoming practices.
But even though he has been off the field, Reid has been a significant influence on his new teammate.
“He’s been amazing so far — coaching me up,” declared Hicks. “I’m learning what he’s learning. He’s showing me how to see plays and attack blocks and stuff like that. He’s been such a helpful guy in the room.”
Hicks’ most notable miscue on Satruday was a second-quarter roughing-the-passer penalty on Jaguars’ quarterback C.J. Beathard after he threw a touchdown pass. Hicks attributes the foul to flawed form while trying to get a hand on the pass.
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
“I tried to jump up to tip the ball,” he said of the play, “but I got pushed a little bit by the guard at the end of the play.”
With 3.5 sacks over his final two seasons at Washington State, getting to the quarterback is not new to Hicks. Even with Saturday’s error, he thinks he will get some opportunities for some splash plays in the backfield.
“I was all over, doing whatever,” he said of his college experience. “We were blitzing at the safety spot. [So] I feel like I can make plays there. That’s good that I’m able to do that in this defense.”
While Saturday was merely an exhibition, Hicks loved getting a taste of an NFL game day.
“It was amazing,” he recalled, “seeing all the guys getting ready for the game [and] getting all the jitters out, as well. It was good — [a] good atmosphere.”
https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2024/8/13/24219144/chiefs-roster-jaden-hicks-content-with-performance-against-jaguars?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger
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