KC Chiefs rookies shine once again in Week 2 vs. Chargers
The KC Chiefs have opened up their 2022 season with back-to-back wins but how much has their 2022 rookie class contributed to the wins?
After a dominant victory in Arizona to begin the season, the Kansas City Chiefs had to quickly turn around and face the Los Angeles Chargers for a Thursday Night Football battle at Arrowhead. Fortunately, the Chiefs were victorious in a 27-24 game against one of their biggest rivals as things looked bleak for a period of time. Their rookies played a key role in the win as four rookies played at least 25 snaps in the game (including special teams).
The Chiefs selected ten players in this past draft, nine of them made the final roster, and eight saw playing time against the Cardinals and/or Chargers. Darian Kinnard did not see any game action in either game and Nazeeh Johnson is on the practice squad. How have the eight rookies performed in their brief NFL careers, even if some have only seen a handful of snaps?
Skyy Moore, Wide Receiver (Round 2, Pick 54)
Out of every rookie in the Chiefs’ draft class, that has dressed in at least one game, no player has seen fewer snaps of any kind than wide receiver Skyy Moore. This is relatively strange as he has shown potential as a receiver and had arguably the most impressive play by a non-Travis Kelce pass-catcher this season when he recorded a 30-yard (including 15 yards after the catch) reception against the Cardinals. He’s also returned seven punts/kickoffs this season for a grand total of 70 yards, 23 of which was on his lone kickoff return.
Skyy Moore’s usage on offense will likely increase as the season goes but it’s puzzling as to why he hasn’t seen additional snaps, especially since Marquez Valdes-Scantling has not looked super impressive in the first two games. Andy Reid has not been one to trust young wide receivers early in their careers, so I guess it’s not a complete surprise, but I think the Chiefs are better served increasing Moore’s role on offense.
Trent McDuffie, Cornerback (Round 1, Pick 21)
There’s not much to update from last week as Trent McDuffie was placed on injured reserve last Tuesday because of a hamstring injury.
In his only game of the season, McDuffie had a solid performance in which he was targeted zero times and recorded a tackle. He is out a minimum of three additional games, which guarantees he’ll miss next week’s game in Indianapolis as well as the following ones against Tampa Bay and Las Vegas. It could take as long as six weeks for him to return and knock him out of the games against the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. The earliest that he can return is the Week 6 heavyweight fight between the Chiefs and Bills.