The Chiefs’ preseason finale in a 9-9 tie with the Seahawks didn’t give anybody much to brag about as a game, but it did sharpen the roster picture for a handful of players on the bubble. With final cuts looming, Friday night became less about the scoreboard and more about who helped their case and who let an opportunity slip away.
Andrew Armstrong continues to look like one of the offseason’s better finds. Signed to a reserve/futures deal in January, he’s spent the summer showing exactly why the Chiefs should be paying attention.
He’s brought size, physicality, reliable hands, blocking, and a nasty edge to his work. At this point, it would be tough to justify keeping Nikko Remigio over him.
Remigio, meanwhile, did himself no favors. The return game is his calling card, but if he’s not bringing something truly special there, the roster argument gets thin fast. Dave Toub clearly trusts him, but Friday’s game highlighted the gap in juice between Remigio and Brashard Smith, and that matters when jobs are on the line.
Smith was the biggest stock-riser of the night. His 57-yard kickoff return changed the feel of the game and got the crowd going, and he followed that with a team-high 72 rushing yards.
It was the kind of performance that forces a team to keep a close eye on him. He looked especially comfortable running the ball, and the more reps he gets, the more settled he seems in that role.
He’s the kind of versatile piece worth holding onto.
R Mason Thomas also kept flashing the traits that make him hard to ignore. His burst off the edge has stood out all preseason, and the bend is as impressive as advertised.
There’s a real sense that he can swing a game with a play or two this season, and the Chiefs have needed that kind of presence in recent years. If Steve Spagnuolo gives him real chances when it counts, Thomas could matter quickly.
Emmett Johnson made his own case as well. He finished with 39 yards on seven carries, good for 5.6 yards per attempt, and added catches on both of his targets. Even with the Chiefs reshaping the running back room through the free-agent additions of Kenneth Walker and Emari Demercado, Johnson looked like a smart draft addition and a player who can chip in meaningful yardage over time.
Not everyone came out of the night better off. Melvin Smith Jr. exited with what was later described as a rib injury, which is a brutal break for a player already fighting from the fringe.
A final preseason game is a precious chance to leave a mark, and Smith lost that shot. Even if his roster fate was already leaning against him, there were still practice squad spots and future opportunities to play for.
There was also a quieter but notable success story up front in Harris. For a defensive lineman buried this deep on the chart, standing out is never easy, especially on a team with this much talent.
But after unsuccessful stops with the Texans, Patriots, and Bills, he has looked like a long shot who keeps forcing the issue. Multiple strong preseason outings have put him in position to serve as the ideal replacement for Omarr Norman-Lott until he’s healthy.
In Other News...
Former Chiefs Fan Favorite Faces New Doubts In Detroit
The Chiefs decision not to bring back Isiah Pacheco closed the book on one of the more popular pieces of their recent offense, and his move to Detroit has already become a reminder of how quickly running back fortunes can change. Pacheco landed with the Lions on a one-year deal, a low-risk chance for a player who once gave Kansas City plenty of juice between the tackles and brought an edge that resonated with fans.
Availability has been the issue, though, as a series of injuries have taken their toll, including an MCL sprain and a recent back injury. Lions coach Dan Campbell has already acknowledged the uncertainty around Pachecos back, leaving Detroit to wait and see how much he can offer as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Suddenly Have A Josh Simmons Problem They Cant Ignore
Josh Simmons has already become one of the more important figures on the Chiefs offensive line conversation, and now his status is suddenly under a microscope. The rookie left tackle has missed practice and a recent preseason game because of a back injury, leaving Kansas City to treat him as day-to-day while it waits for more clarity on how much time he might actually miss.
Andy Reid said Simmons will go through further testing to determine whether the issue is long-term, even though the early word is that the injury is not considered significant at the moment. Still, given Simmons injury history and the role he is expected to play moving forward, the Chiefs do not have much choice but to monitor this closely as they try to protect their plans up front. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Preseason Finale Could Reshape More Than Just The Back End
The Chiefs head into their preseason finale against the Seahawks with more on the line than just one more exhibition tuneup. For several players, this is the last chance to make a case before roster cutdown day, and the competition is still very much alive at a few spots that matter to the depth chart. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is expected to see significant work, giving him one more stage to push his way into the conversation for the backup job.
The same pressure runs through the tight end room, where Jared Wiley and Jake Briningstool are battling for the third-string spot. Up front, undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson has done enough to stay in the mix for the 53-man roster, and his rise has even opened the door to a possible starting role. For Kansas City, this final preseason game is less about the score than about which players can turn a strong camp into a real place on the roster. [Read more 🡒]