Chiefs defense is finding identity at right time under Steve Spagnuolo
Battling through injuries with zero excuses
The 2019 season has been tough on Kansas City when it comes to injuries on both sides of the ball. Every area of the defense has seen players miss time due to injury. Fighting through injuries and losing players for extended amounts of time, or the season is one of the most impressive parts of the defense this year.
As we already mentioned, Clark missed two games himself. Defensive tackle Chris Jones missed three weeks with a groin injury. Okafor has missed four games with a hip and ankle injury. Emmanuel Ogbah, who had emerged in a breakout season after being traded from the Cleveland Browns, was placed on Injured Reserve following Week 10 with a pectoral tear. That doesn’t even include Breeland Speaks missing the entire season on IR, Xavier Williams spending the season on IR, or guys like Derrick Nnadi, who has been playing despite being banged up with an elbow injury.
Despite all of those injuries along the defensive line, the defense has still found ways to generate pressure. Players like third-year defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon, who received no chance under Bob Sutton, has helped fill in those holes this year. Third-round pick Khalen Saunders was forced to play early with all the injuries at defensive tackle and has shown significant growths in development.
On the back end of the defense, cornerback Kendall Fuller missed weeks 7-11 coming back following the bye week as a limited contributor at safety and nickel corner. Bashaud Breeland has played through a shoulder injury for multiple weeks. Sixth-round pick Rashad Fenton was called upon to play significant time in the nickel position following Fuller’s injury. He missed the Patriots game with a hamstring injury. Morris Claiborne also missed the Patriots game with a shoulder injury.
The list goes on and on, but the Chiefs defense refuses to back down. Mathieu and second-round draft pick Juan Thornhill have taken charge at the top of the defense. Thornhill has become a playmaker developing each week and looks to be a star in the future. Mid to late-round draft picks like Saunders and Fenton are being forced onto the field and continue to step up. Players like Ogbah, who had been an average player in Cleveland, was having the best season of his career. It’s been helpful to see the Chiefs endure such issues and still perform well as a team.