Chiefs OTAs: James O’Shaughnessy finding his groove

The Kansas City Chiefs are a bit thin at the tight end position on paper. Starter Travis Kelce is a man among boys, but what happens after him? Currently, second-stringer Demetrius Harris is recovering from foot surgery, leaving rookie fifth-round pick James O’Shaughnessy as the lone safety net.

It would appear a nervous situation for general manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid, but things are looking up at Kansas City’s OTA practices. O’Shaughnessy has reportedly been making plays, and is starting to feel more comfortable with his role, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.

"“The first couple of days, it kind of hit me smack in the face,” O’Shaughnessy said. “For the last two weeks, it’s started to sink in that I’m a part of this team and I can compete at this level and play with some of the great guys I’ve been watching the last six, seven years. To play on the same field as Travis Kelce and Jamaal Charles and Alex Smith is unbelievable to me."

On Thursday, Reid threw a curveball at the youngster. When the Chiefs broke into three groups based on the depth chart, O’Shaughnessy went with the first team alongside Kelce.

"“I guess you could say I’m surprised,” he said. “Going against the No. 1 defense really gives you a clear idea of what you’re going to face every Sunday."

In reality, this is just OTA sessions. The pads have not come on yet and the real tests are waiting for O’Shaughnessy in August. Still, it is always good to get off on the right foot and start growing confidence, especially for a kid who played at a small school. To this point, it seems there have been plenty of positive signs for O’Shaughnessy.

"“I’ll be honest,” he said. “The first two days I was a little nervous to see if I belonged. That sounds awful but it is what it is and coming from a small I-AA you kind of have that insecurity in the back of your head. But within a week I felt pretty comfortable that I can compete at this level.”"