Three KC Chiefs players who benefit from a COVID-affected season
By Matt Conner
Byron Pringle
One of the more important subplots for the Chiefs front office to watch unfold this season will be the performance of the team’s developmental wide receivers.
Earlier this offseason, the Chiefs surprised fans and analysts alike with their interest and ability to bring back both Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson to the roster. Watkins restructured his deal while Robinson took a cheap one-year contract to return. Both players were interested in “running it back” after a Super Bowl win last winter.
Next year, both Watkins and Robinson will hit free agency and the Chiefs will likely move on from both. That means wideouts who are WR5 or lower this season will find themselves fighting for plenty more snaps higher up the depth chart in 2021.
In a typical year, undrafted free agents like Kalija Lipscomb, Maurice Ffrench, or Andre Baccellia would have a very real chance to turn heads and knock off more experienced players in front of them—names like, say, Byron Pringle or Gehrig Dieter. Instead, the lack of exhibitions will likely give Pringle a win without any real competition.
That’s not to say that Pringle wouldn’t win against such competition as it is. He was bound for the active roster back in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. He made the active roster last year after sitting due to injury in ’18 and played in all 16 games on special teams for the Chiefs. He also caught 12 passes for 170 yards and his first pro touchdown.
Pringle is talented enough to keep climbing the Chiefs roster, but it also helps to not have to worry about too many chances for this year’s rookie class to show off their own skills.