Predicting KC Chiefs’ roster cuts before 85-man deadline

OT Roderick Johnson

If you want a reason for running back Ronald Jones’ poor showing Saturday, offensive tackle Roderick Johnson is a good place to start.

Johnson came to Kansas City on a reserve/future contract, after joining the team’s practice squad. He had some promise, playing in 16 games for the Houston Texans in 2020. Journeyman offensive tackles are not to be ignored, especially when the Chiefs lacked any themselves. Johnson’s preseason stock hit an all-time high in the absence of Orlando Brown Jr. during training camp. Surprisingly, the Chiefs turned to Johnson for first-team reps without Brown, showing how much faith the team had in Johnson.

See how that was “had” instead of “has”? All faith is in the past after a terrible showing against the Bears.

Johnson’s performance stood out like a sore thumb, with poor run blocking and pass blocking. Teams expect more technique from a 26-year-old veteran, but Johnson displayed none on Saturday. He played 22 snaps against the Bears, with very little positive takeaways from them.

The Chiefs have other options at offensive tackle, such as Darian Kinnard and Geron Christian. Investing in those players or younger prospects seems like a wise path forward this preseason.