Three reasons not to panic about KC Chiefs defense

Young players will get better

The Chiefs have a strong history of coaching up their younger, developmental players under Andy Reid and his coordinators, and we should trust they will continue to do that with the emerging players on this defense.

Turk Wharton and Mike Danna were instant contributors in their first season in the NFL. Now they should only blossom with further playing time, especially Danna who played starter’s reps outside in place of Frank Clark. Both players have leaped up the depth chart already to shift veterans like Alex Okafor and Derrick Nnadi down the pecking order.

Nick Bolton made his NFL debut this week and looked the part as an instinctual, decisive linebacker at times. It’s also true that the Browns largely ran at will on Sunday, no matter whether it was Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt. Bolton is going to learn on the fly in this defense, especially with Willie Gay sidelined for now. Given his expected playing time, he should only get better for K.C.

The same can be said of other first- and second-year players on this Chiefs defense, which we often forget just how young the overall unit is. L’Jarius Sneed, Khalen Saunders and Joshua Kaindoh will all grow into bigger roles just as other 25-and-under players like Charvarius Ward, Deandre Baker, Mike Hughes and others get better with experience.