It would appear the start right guard situation just had it’s first shakeup.
Rokeveious Watkins has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. You can read that as he likely got caught smoking pot, though we’ll never know what he tested positive for officially. Here’s the tweet from a respected source so as to confirm the news.
#Chiefs guard Rokevious Watkins suspended for 4 games for violating NFL substance abuse policy
— Randy Covitz (@randycovitz) July 3, 2014
Watkins was thought to be in the mix with Zach Fulton, Rishaw Johnson, and Jeff Linkenbach as the potential starter a right guard. This suspension almost all but assures he will not win that job and it may put his roster spot in jeopardy.
Given the Chiefs needs at tackle and the way the snaps broke down at OTA’s, one would think Fulton and Johnson are the two leading candidates to start at right guard heading into camp. Having one less competitor in Watkins should mean both Johnson and Fulton will see extra time with the first team. Of course, the Chiefs could always sign someone between now and the start of camp to change that theory.
Watkins came over to the Chiefs last season after spending time with the St. Louis Rams.