While it’s important to take in the team’s entire performance, here are five key players to watch closely on Thursday night against Houston.
With the first official game of the Patrick Mahomes era of Kansas City Chiefs football, it’s obvious to say that all eyes are going to be on the first-year starting quarterback on Thursday night. Andy Reid says he plans to play each of his quarterbacks for one quarter apiece, which likely means that Mahomes will get somewhere between 1 to 3 offensive series total with which to adjust to game speed.
Beyond Mahomes, however, there are a number of players worth watching on Thursday in particular who will hold the key to the Chiefs success in 2018. There are 90 players in all and most of them will get at least a few snaps to showcase what they can do, even if only on special teams units, so it’s impossible to go into every position battle or why each player could be important. But for our purposes, we’re especially interested in the following:
1. Spencer Ware
Last year at this time, the Chiefs had just drafted Kareem Hunt, a promising young back out of Toledo who was planned to bide his time behind and/or beside Spencer Ware for a chance to showcase his skills carrying the football. Unfortunately for Ware, a torn MCL/PCL late in the preseason forced Hunt into full-time duty and the rest is NFL history as he became just the sixth rookie to ever win the rushing title.
One year later, Ware has beaten the odds to return (almost) all the way back from such a devastating injury. But this will be the first time he will have opponents with their own jobs on the line hitting him at full strength. How will his knee ligaments hold up? Will he look timid? Is Ware ready to reclaim at least some playing time, and if so, how good could the Chiefs look with a pair of two-way backs?
2. Eric Berry
Speaking of season-ending injuries, Eric Berry’s horrible luck surfaced again last year with an Achilles injury in Week 1 that ended his entire season—his third lost season in his career. He’s a living legend on the field whose inspirational story, community-oriented heart and tremendous personal courage are somehow outdone by his all-around dynamism on the field. In short, without Berry, the Chiefs are a different (read: much worse) team on and off the field.
Now with another major injury to overcome, Berry is back and ready to roll. But is he? The human body can only take so much but then again this is EB we’re talking about. He looks the part and the team seems confident that he’s back. It will be interesting to watch how much he plays and how he looks in the process given the importance of his presence in the secondary.
3. Anthony Hitchens
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As the new $45 million man in the middle, Hitchens has been given the mantle that once belonged to Derrick Johnson in the heart of the Chiefs defense. Brett Veach swears by this guy’s toughness and athleticism, noting that the stat sheet of the last four years with the Dallas Cowboys doesn’t tell the whole story.
Now it’s time to see if Veach is right. The Chiefs general manager handed out two mammoth contracts this offseason to a wide receiver and inside linebacker, zigging when everyone else is zagging in the NFL. Those aren’t exactly positions at which a team normally breaks the bank, but Veach is an avid fan of Hitchens and says Chiefs Kingdom will agree when they get to see him play. On Thursday, we get that chance.
4. Kendall Fuller
The Chiefs identified Kendall Fuller as a primary piece they wanted in return for quarterback Alex Smith, the team’s single greatest trade asset from the past year (and maybe much more). After trading for him, they also ended up dealing away their most talented cornerback in Marcus Peters, leaving the secondary very thin on paper.
Fuller emerged last year as a brilliant slot corner who worked magic in the middle with his lightning quick instincts, acceleration and physical play. The Chiefs will need all that and more in the middle as they hope his breakout season was only the beginning of a climb toward elite status. Given the question marks on the outside, it’d be nice to know that the middle is in such great hands.
5. Cam Erving
Last year the Chiefs traded a future fifth round draft choice for the last few years of Cam Erving’s rookie deal from the Cleveland Browns. After a full year with Andy Reid’s coaching staff, Erving is ready to step up for the Chiefs—either into a starting role at left guard or into Zach Fulton’s now-vacant role as a super sub along the entire line.
Erving has been given some starters reps in recent days during training camp at left guard. Perhaps Erving can stop the carousel from spinning with other horses like Bryan Witzmann, Ryan Hunter and Parker Ehinger on board, but even if he’s not ready there, the team can utilize him as a versatile presence a la Fulton to substitute in at guard, center and even tackle on either side.