3 Chiefs who won’t be on the roster after training camp
By Kristen Wong
Who are some potential cut candidates for the Kansas City Chiefs this training camp?
The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off their training camp on Tuesday, and you know what that means: time to trim the fat off the roster.
For the next two months, the Chiefs will attempt to cut their squad down to a 53-man roster. Veterans and rookies will battle it out and– yeah, you’ve heard this all before. Training camp competition is tough. Guys like Patrick Mahomes get the VIP treatment — Netflix docuseries and all — but most Chiefs players still have much to prove, and they’ve got a relatively short span of time to convince Andy Reid and the coaching staff that they deserve to be here, in Kansas City, on a Super-Bowl contending team.
Some will succeed. Some will fail. And some will remind those who fail that football is just a game, let’s just have fun.
Here are three Chiefs player who may be packing their bags after training camp.
Chiefs’ training camp cut candidate No. 3: Justyn Ross, WR
At the top of our list is a player touted to be the Chiefs’ breakout wide receiver for 2023: undrafted free agent Justyn Ross.
One could just as easily close their eyes, pick a name out of a hat full of Chiefs wideouts, and declare that player to breakout this season. Over a year after Tyreek Hill’s departure, no singular target has managed to fill Hill’s large shoes, and this year’s training camp will likely feature another “Battle of the Mids.”
Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Skyy Moore top the depth chart; the rest of the order will be decided this summer. As much hype as Justyn Ross has received so far, he may be a step behind the likes of Justin Watson, Richie James, and Rashee Rice.
The Chiefs’ sneaky outside target of 2022, Watson, signed a two-year deal in April and should retain his roster spot — his two crucial catches in the Super Bowl didn’t go unnoticed. Richie James went for over 500 yards for the Giants last year and may vibe well with Toney. 2023 second-rounder Rashee Rice is just getting his feet wet.
In a crowded wideout room, Ross has the least going for him. He has unknown chemistry with Mahomes, less playing experience than James, and he went undrafted. He’s young at 23 years old and has impressive footage from Clemson, but he’s virtually an unknown X factor. Ross’ anonymity makes him a tantalizing breakout candidate for pundits who want to come up with a new and original take. Living up to those expectations is a different story.