Five Chiefs players who’ve gone missing in training camp
By Matt Conner
Darius Harris
Fans of the Chiefs will know Harris as a familiar face in the second level of the defense, even if he’s not played all that much for a unit that’s lacked top-tier talent or depth.
Harris first signed with the Chiefs as a rookie free agent out of Middle Tennessee State (where he was teammates with Charvarius Ward) back in 2019. Since then, Harris has made the team for three straight seasons, showing enough to beat out competition year after year—a notable achievement in itself. In 2020, Harris even made it into four games and saw that number rise to seven last season.
Given the trajectory, you’d think Harris was heading for even greater impact in his fourth season with the Chiefs, but this offseason has not been kind to Harris on a couple of fronts. First, the unit is deeper and more talented than ever, which means fringe players are no longer needed. Beyond Nick Bolton and Willie Gay is a new third-round pick in Leo Chenal. From there, Elijah Lee and Jermaine Carter, Jr. were signed as free agents. Those are likely the five that make it in to the regular season.
Even still, both Jack Cochrane and Mike Rose were exciting rookie free agents who signed with the team and offer several cost-controlled years as developmental players. That means Harris could find his role threatened on multiple fronts. Lee’s presence might crowd him from the veteran side while the UDFAs could take up spots on the practice squad after roster cuts are due.
Harris might want to find his mojo sometime soon to remind the Chiefs they were giving him more opportunities than ever just last year.