Several players stood out in the Chiefs preseason debut against the Cincinnati Bengals last week. Surprising newcomers like TE Travis Kelce, RB De’Anthony Thomas and S Malcolm Bronson all showed great ability and need to keep it up.
It’s easy to forget amid the excitement of the first football we’ve seen in months, but much of what we see in the preseason is illusory. Some players look unstoppable against opposing backups, and the team’s defense can at times take credit for the dysfunction of opposing squads that often have never played together before.
In the same way, it is not necessarily cause for alarm if a player is not looking particularly fresh during preseason. It’s better for them to work the kinks out now than during the regular season. That said, after re-watching the tape of starters last week, there are three players in particular that I think need to show some improvement on Sunday against the Panthers.