3 Chiefs veterans who could be surprise cuts this preseason
By Mark Powell
The Kansas City Chiefs have to make some tough decisions for their 53-man roster, and that could lead to some veterans getting the ax.
The Chiefs play their final preseason game on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers, in a contest many of their veteran starters will not play.
However, for a select few, they know a roster spot is on the line. Several young guns are pushing reliable veterans for said opportunities, as is the case most training camps.
Starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes made a point of playing in the preseason to get some reps with the No. 1’s. Not every player is like this. — see Aaron Rodgers.
“Yeah, I like to get in there and I like to get hit like one time,” Mahomes explained. “Once you get hit one time you kind of see what it is to get hit again as a quarterback. I feel like after that you’re good to go.”
That experience should help him come the regular season. But could some familiar faces be on the outs?
Chiefs veterans who could be cut: Ronald Jones
Jones was brought in as a candidate to back up Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but in a surprise twist, it could be a rookie taking his roster spot.
Jerick McKinnon has performed well enough to secure the No. 2 slot behind CEH. After that, there’s a lot of uncertainty, including with Isiah Pacheco. The Rutgers product has plenty of explosiveness, and should double as a special-teams threat. As early as preseason Week 1 he was getting some runs with 1’s, even impressing the likes of Mahomes.
Even Andy Reid admitted Pacheco will be an essential part of the offense:
"“He’s got a little juice,” Reid said, per The Athletic. “The things you’re guaranteed of are that he’s going to run hard. Will he have to learn the different schemes and how they work against certain defenses and at times be patient? He’ll learn that. But he’s going to run hard. He’s a good catcher. The rest of all that, we can work with, and he’s doing that now. He’s learning the feel of it.”"
That juice will earn Pacheco a roster spot, and could cost Jones his.