Frankie Hammond Jr. Making His Case To Make The Chiefs Roster
By Ben Nielsen
Frankie Hammond Jr. looks like a guy who isn’t just playing to be the last guy on the team but as a guy who wants to be a starter on this team. And from his early performances it is getting tough to not consider him in that light.
In two preseason games this year and in three last year, the Chiefs wide receiver has eight receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. Thirty-five of his 104 yards have come after the catch. Those numbers would have been higher if a penalty hadn’t wiped out a 51-yard catch and run in Sunday’s game against Carolina.
Hammond’s efforts on the field haven’t gone unnoticed by Andy Reid, who gave Hammond reps with the first team in place of Dwayne Bowe who sat out practice with a quad strain.
“He’s made the best of the opportunities that he’s had,” said Reid after practice yesterday. “He’s taking great advantage of those and keeps getting better every day, one of the hardest workers on the team.”
Alex Smith already has a nickname or Hammond.
“Frankie is like Mr. Reliable. All offseason and all training camp the guy, I mean every time he’s out there he knows what he’s doing, makes plays and he showed it in the preseason these last couple of games. Same thing, when his number gets called he’s been ready and beyond that. He’s going out there and being aggressive and cutting it loose. He’s a guy that knows all the positions. We move him around and I think out of the quarterback room, he’s demanded a lot of respect because of the way he goes about his business.”
Should Hammond make the team it probably means Junior Hemingway finds himself on the practice squad at some point after week one of the season. Hemingway has been dealing with hamstring and hip issues this preseason and has seen limited action in practice and in games. Hammond has taken advantage of the opportunity and may end up being the diamond in the rough we’ve been hoping for at wide receiver.
The Chiefs have been looking for someone to help take pressure off of Dwayne Bowe and Jamaal Charles in the passing game. If a committee of Travis Kelce, De’Anthony Thomas, and Hammond can make that happen then we could see some improvement from last year’s passing offense.