Three wrinkles for the KC Chiefs to iron out against Bears
By Matt Conner
Week 3 should be an easy one for the Kansas City Chiefs.
With the Chicago Bears coming to town, the Chiefs are looking at the least dangerous team—on paper—on this season's regular season schedule. Even at this very hour, the Bears are looking more vulnerable than ever. Matt Eberflus's seat is heating up. Justin Fields is facing heavy criticism. The Bears' overall lack of talent is haunting them with every new injury that arises.
Even as the Chiefs are overwhelming favorites versus Chicago (by 13 to start the week), it doesn't mean the Chiefs lack any trouble spots of their own. Yes, they won last week on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they're 1-1 to start the year with a few areas that still need further attention from coaches and staff. The only way to work out some issues is to put in the work, so here are the places where we hope to see healthy reps and decisions on the field in Week 3.
Someone claim the return game
Wide receiver Richie James didn't practice at all this week, and head coach Andy Reid intimated that it could be a long-term absence when speaking to reporters directly after his first missed practice. Further updates could bring back James sooner than later, but it's not as if the Chiefs have seen a lot of productive returns in the last year plus as it is.
Dave Toub spoke to reporters this week saying that he's going with a rotation of wide receivers at the return position on Sunday and that he'll utilize a committee approach. The names mentioned included Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, and Rashee Rice. Moore had a less-than-spectacular run last year but bounced back to at least show he'd overcome the mental hiccups. Watson could be serviceable there yet unexciting. Toney is electric, but there's a reason the Chiefs moved Tyreek Hill away from returns to focus on offense alone a few years ago. Toney is best served in that way, too. As for Rice, he's a rookie without much experience and is likely the worst option here.
That will likely keep anyone from getting a real rhythm in the role, which is frustrating, because it'd be nice to see this wrinkle ironed out on Sunday. Instead, we're likely going to have to wait for a few weeks before this finds any real long-term traction with someone in the role.