It sounds as if the Kansas City Chiefs are ready to get some reinforcements in the secondary. That's especially good timing given that the Las Vegas Raiders are waiting to (surprisingly) battle for AFC West supremacy in Week 4 in a matchup of two 3-0 teams.
The Chiefs will take to the road once again after visiting Miami in Week 3. The news that Chamarri Conner is likely to take the field with the team for the first time in 2026 is welcome news after watching the Chiefs' safeties struggle against Malik Willis and the Dolphins offense.
Conner's return has taken longer than expected
Conner has missed the first three games of the regular season after injuring his knee in a collision with wide receiver Tyquan Thornton in training camp. Conner's absence was always considered a short-term concern, but swelling kept him from returning as originally expected. That led to the fourth-year safety missing most of the season's first month.
Coming into a new week, however, head coach Andy Reid indicated that Conner is likely to be playing on Sunday. When speaking to reporters on Monday, Reid said, "He practiced last week, and he'll get going this week, too. There's a good chance he'll be out there. We'll see how the week goes, but it looks like there'll be a pretty decent chance."
As Reid noted, Conner returned to practice for the first time last Wednesday, but he remained a limited participant throughout the week and finished with a pre-game designation of "doubtful." The Chiefs then officially kept him out and leaned on Alohi Gilman and Jaden Hicks to carry the load once again.
The need at safety is real
Even when Conner was healthy, safety was one of the thinner depth charts on the team. The trio of Gilman, Conner, and Hicks is a solid young core, but the Chiefs employ little depth behind them, which is what made Conner's absence so tough on the unit. Obviously, the Chiefs weathered the storm, with a 3-0 record and a tough divisional win over the Denver Broncos in their pocket, but that doesn't mean they can't use the help.
In Sunday's win over the Dolphins, Gilman had some rough moments when tackling (e.g., poor angles), which led to significant or timely gains for Miami's offense. Hicks struggled at times as well in coverage, and it was clear the Dolphins had no problems taking the game to them. Both have been tasked with playing 100 percent of snaps through the first three weeks of the season (including Week 3).
That's not to say that Hicks and/or Gilman aren't good players. But Conner was always tapped as a starter, with Hicks supplementing the secondary in nickel and dime packages. Getting Conner back not only gives the team a safety with more experience than anyone in Steve Spagnuolo's system, but it also brings relief for players who've been burdened on every play.
As for what Conner brings, the experience is only a part of the picture. Conner is versatile enough to be used in myriad ways in the secondary, but his instincts and recognition allow him to truly excel as a safety in the box. And let's not forget the motivation that comes with a contract year for Conner, who was first drafted by the Chiefs in 2023 in the fourth round.
Nothing is certain just yet. Conner still hasn't made his debut, and it's possible that complications alter the timeline as he gets another week of practice. But fans will be glad to see the Chiefs' secondary with Conner back in the fold, especially after some of the positional struggles last Sunday.
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