Kansas City Chiefs: Robert Golden is safest bet for Week 1 starting nod at safety
With Dan Sorensen expected to miss the early part of the regular season, Robert Golden should be the team’s starter beside Eric Berry going into Week 1.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday night that Chiefs safety Dan Sorensen will undergo knee surgery and will miss the remainder of the preseason. Sorensen is also expected to miss some games in the early goings of the regular season.
The report came after Sorensen sat out of practice in Tuesday’s practice, the final practice before Kansas City’s preseason opener on Thursday. The Chiefs have another safety in Leon McQuay III dealing with an injury as he has a hamstring injury while Eric Berry was given the day off from Tuesday’s practice.
There is no doubt that Berry is expected to be the starter in Week 1 going into the season. However, who starts beside Berry got more interesting.
Eric Murray and Armani Watts saw first-team reps in Tuesday’s practice and could start in Thursday’s preseason game. But with the season still more than a month away, the Chiefs could shift players around at the safety position throughout the preseason before making a decision.
Eric Murray and Armani Watts drew the initial first-team reps with Sorensen out and Eric Berry resting today. Chiefs have some depth with Robert Golden and Leon McQuay. Losing Sorensen for extended time hurts but the club has options.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) August 7, 2018
Murray and McQuay combine for just three career starts while Watts is entering his rookie season after being taken in the fourth round out of Texas A&M.
But despite not starting in his first three season in the league, former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Robert Golden saw time as a starter in the last three seasons, 12 to be exact.
Golden might not start all 16 games, especially if Watts progression goes well or if Sorensen returns, but Golden would be the most reliable player to have start beside Berry going into the regular season. Don’t be surprised if Golden, Murray, McQuay and Watts all see at least one start or plenty of playing time on the field before Sorensen’s return.