Reviewing the KC Chiefs rookies after 2022’s first quarter

How have the rookies on the Kansas City Chiefs performed over the first month of the 2022 regular season, including in the 41-31 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

The Kansas City Chiefs, after being upset by the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3, needed a bounce-back performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they got it with a 41-31 triumph. How did the 2022 rookie draft class for the Chiefs perform both in the Week 4 victory and how have they performed in the regular season as a whole? Let’s review every rookie from the team’s 2022 draft class, who’s seen consistent playing time, and how they have played in their young NFL careers.

The Chiefs selected ten players in this 2022 NFL Draft, with nine of them making the final roster after camp, and eight have seen playing time so far this season. Darian Kinnard, despite making the final roster, has yet to dress for a game this regular season and Nazeeh Johnson is on the practice squad. Trent McDuffie will be excluded from this article because he is currently on injured reserve. Joshua Williams will also not be included due to his lack of playing time on defense.

Leo Chenal, Linebacker (Round 3, Pick 103)

Leo Chenal did not see a lot of playing time in Tampa, playing only four snaps on defense and four plays on special teams, and failed to record a statistic. There isn’t much to add from last week but Chenal has demonstrated his physicality as well as development in his coverage ability. He’s been solid in his limited coverage snaps this year, which was an issue at Wisconsin since he struggled in space at times, where his strength was stopping the run. He has the potential to be an excellent third option at the linebacker position but there’s a reason that Darius Harris got the call when Willie Gay was suspended.

In the future, he could be a great contributor, but 2022 is looking like a redshirt/development year for the third-round rookie.