Chiefs vs. Commanders: Five lessons learned in second preseason game
By KC Proctor
2. Defensive tackle competition is wide open
With star defensive tackle Chris Jones sitting out in week two of the preseason—he sustained a minor back injury at training camp on Wednesday—Tershawn Wharton and Khalen Saunders were in the spotlight.
It is clear that Derrick Nnadi will be the starter alongside Jones on the Chiefs’ interior defensive line, but rotational snaps remain up for grabs.
Tershawn Wharton got the start in Saturday’s game against the Commanders and he had a fairly quiet outing. The Washington offense was held scoreless while the Chiefs’ starting defense was on the field, but Wharton’s day concluded without a tackle or QB pressure recorded. Khalen Saunders, on the other hand, who had an impressive tackle for loss in the Chiefs’ first preseason game, was able to display his highly touted speed and athleticism again this week.
On a play in the final 60 seconds of the first half, Saunders beat the right guard with a nasty swim move, exploded into the backfield, and hit Commanders QB2 Taylor Heineke in the chest. The hit was more of a shove that leveled Heineke immediately after releasing the ball, and a ticky-tack roughing the passer penalty was called.
Saunders got to Commanders rookie QB Sam Howell for a sack in the third quarter and then showed off his versatility by dropping back into zone coverage on the very next play. Regardless of his availability in his first two years as a Chief, he seems to be hitting stride right now and is building a strong case for his belonging on this roster.
The time between now and week one is dwindling, but the competition among the defensive lineman seems far from over.