Lions vs Chiefs preseason Week 2: 3 important storylines fans must monitor

Saturday afternoon sets the stage for a heavyweight bout between two Super Bowl contenders, the Detroit Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs—if only this weren't a preseason exhibition. While the stakes for the team's overall success are nil, they couldn't be higher for some of the players on this list.

A player's performance on Saturday could be the difference between that man earning a roster spot on a contender ($750,000 per year) or ending up on the practice squad on a bodddddddsdf dssfttom-of-the-league team ($12,500 per week).

Here are the biggest storylines for the Kansas City Chiefs heading into their second preseason game.

Chiefs' Young Offensive Tackles vs Detroit's Elite Defensive Line

Bolstering Detroit's defensive line has been a point of emphasis for Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell since they were united in 2021, and boy did they accomplish that goal. The pair already established an above-average defensive line room in 2023, but this offseason, the Lions added former first-round DE Marcus Davenport and elite interior pass-rusher DJ Reader (DT) as well.

Sparring with one of the best defensive lines in the NFL will no doubt be a challenge for young offensive tackles Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris (if healthy), however, their success might very well determine the outcome of the Chiefs' entire season.

Chiefs' tackles have the biggest responsibility in the history of sports: Protect the greatest quarterback of all time's blind side. Their success/failure could determine the future of the most successful athlete in Kansas City sports history.

Analyzing the Chiefs' Wide Receiver Battles

After adding receivers Xavier Worthy (draft), Hollywood Brown (free agency), and Mecole Hardman (free agency) in the 2024 offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs receiver room has become very full. Second-year superstar Rashee Rice is still firmly in the driver's seat to be Patrick Mahomes' number one target at the position, Meanwhile, WRs Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore, who were both once touted as the next "WR1" for KC, are on the roster bubble. Fan favorites Justyn Ross and Nikko Remigio round out the primary competitors and are almost destined for a departure.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has only kept at least 7 receivers on the active roster once during the regular season—in 2023. Worthy, Rice, Brown, Hardman, and Watson are locks to make the roster, leaving Skyy, Toney, Ross, and Remigio to battle it out for the last couple of spots. Will Reid go with seven once again?

If one of the last receivers wants to maintain their spot on the roster, he is going to have to make multiple plays on Saturday. Expect to see them featured for a significant portion of the game against a secondary that lacks the depth Chiefs fans are used to seeing.

Can Carson "Steal" Andy Reid's Heart?

A bit cheesy, but who doesn't love this RB out of UCLA. Any NFL fan who watched the Chiefs' first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars fell head over heels for Carson Steele. His physical style of play and never-say-die attitude got him 7.3 yards per carry as well as 1 rushing touchdown.

An incredibly impressive debut to say the least; however, Andy Reid doesn't fall for one-hit wonders. Steele is going to have to do it again and again to prove his worth over former first-round running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and fellow competitor Deneric Prince.

Is it probable that a UDFA can become the RB2 for the Chiefs coming off of a Super Bowl win? Probably not. But that doesn't mean Steele won't try to bulldoze over every poor linebacker in his path to try.