Chiefs vs. Chargers: Vital lessons learned from Week 2

Chiefs’ impressive depth provides big moments

This offseason was all about creating better depth for the Chiefs on both sides of the ball. When general manager Brett Veach decided to trade wide receiver Tyreek Hill earlier this offseason, it was a move made for the Chiefs to get not only younger but deeper, to keep them from being such a top-heavy roster—one dependent on a couple of stars on both sides of the ball. Instead of keeping Hill or re-signing Tyrann Mathieu, for example, the Chiefs spread the money around and invested in a lot of young picks.

On Thursday night, the Chiefs saw some of those role players and depth signings come up big for the team in key moments. Justin Watson has looked like he has excellent chemistry with Patrick Mahomes throughout the preseason and surprised a lot of fans by making the team. When Mecole Hardman was forced to the sideline for a play with an ankle injury, Watson came up big with an incredible route and juke on J.C. Jackson for a touchdown—one that was much needed at the time.

Then late in the game, the Chargers were at the 3-yard line when seventh-round rookie Jaylen Watson fools Justin Herbert by jumping inside of a passing lane near the end zone and taking it all the way to the house. That interception return was not only an early career highlight for Watson but a game-changer for the Chiefs.

In the end, Chiefs fans got to know a couple of new faces and it’s a sign that this team will likely find contributors from all parts of the roster this year.