Kansas City Chiefs players hurt most by lack of preseason games

Jordan Ta’amu

This one might bum me out the most.

Jordan Ta’amu has the sort of developmental upside that Andy Reid could work with. If he had a full offseason along with four preseason games to show that he could make plays in Reid’s offense, I think there was a chance he could have earned the primary backup spot behind Patrick Mahomes. At the very least, he could have looked good enough to protect on the active roster as the third quarterback.

The problem is that with a Super Bowl caliber roster, the Chiefs need their backup quarterback to know the playbook and offense well enough to keep the ship afloat if Mahomes has to miss a little time. I just don’t think you gamble giving that job to a guy who has never even taken a preseason snap. Just when I thought the Chiefs might have kept him on the 53 man roster after Chad Henne, they went and re-signed Matt Moore. That move says to me that they aren’t expecting any contribution from Ta’amu this season.

I really hope the Chiefs keep Ta’amu on the practice squad to give him a year to develop and learn the offense. Next season, when they are potentially hurting for cap space, he could be a cheap backup option with a year in the system.

I still like the long-term upside of Ta’amu under Andy Reid, but this incredibly short offseason probably sunk any chances of him being able to do enough to earn a spot for 2020. Let’s just hope that another team doesn’t steal him away if K.C. places him on the practice squad.

Next up, the odd man out of the running back room.