NFL training camps have been in high gear. Suddenly, the first weekend of preseason games is here for 2022. The Kansas City Chiefs will travel to Chicago to take on the Bears on Saturday afternoon. Though this game will not count in the win or loss column, it is an important beginning for many players to showcase themselves. Roster spots are up for grabs. Kansas City has many new faces added to the roster. In addition, there are questions surrounding both sides of the ball for the Chiefs.

Head coach Andy Reid says that each quarterback will play one quarter. One would have to expect that most of the starters could get close to a full quarter as well. Depending on how well they do, Reid may lessen their playing time and save them for next week. Offensively, can the new rhythm between Patrick Mahomes and his new weapons carry over from training camp? What kind of abilities could the youthful Chiefs defense display on Saturday?

With those questions in mind, it is time to list our top items to watch for from the Chiefs perspective in Saturday’s preseason game. Among those previous items, we will also be looking into rookies and top position battles. Here is what Kansas City fans should be watching for when the team takes the field to open the preseason in the Windy City.

The Chiefs offense of course ended things on a sour note in last year’s playoffs. Mahomes struggled to connect on many passes in the second half of the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals. At the same time, the offense failed to make necessary adjustments down the stretch. This led to wide sweeping changes at the skill positions.

JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were each signed in free agency this offseason. To boot, the Chiefs added more to the wide receiver room, with the second-round draft selection of Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore. This group may not be able to singlehandedly replace the unicorn-like talent of Tyreek Hill. Nevertheless, Kansas City appears to boast a more balanced wide receiver room this season.

Starting off the game by getting these new wide receivers going should be something that Kansas City fans should watch for. What kind of routes are certain receivers running? Does Mahomes appear to feed one guy more often than any of the others? Obviously, the whole playbook will not be opened up in the first preseason game. Though, if the Chiefs show that Mahomes and company have already built solid chemistry, this team could once again start things off hot when the regular season commences.

As mentioned earlier, some starters may not play at all or a whole lot in this game. The makeup of the Chiefs starting defense will be fascinating to watch for, however. Starting spots and certain roles are likely not yet set in stone. But overall, this is a defensive group that has not played many snaps together. There are also some Kansas City defenders who are assuming larger roles in 2022, like Nick Bolton for example.

Steve Spagnuolo has many rookies or youngsters that he is working with. In the first preseason game, it would not be as surprising to see him let these young guns loose and allow them to play aggressive. Unlike vanilla looks that the offense may show, the Chiefs defense could be eager to show their new attitude and tenacity. Simply put, this group is hungry.

Fans are aware of household names like Chris Jones, Frank Clark, L’Jarius Sneed and Bolton. Yet, the rest of the starting defense will be crucial to look towards in certain spots. Which other defensive tackle starts alongside of Jones? Is Willie Gay truly going to be used in a more specific role that plays to his strength? Lastly, what are the names starting at cornerback, a position that saw the most influx of new talent out of all positions on the roster? The Chiefs are likely eager to let this faster, tougher and more instinctual defensive group fly around in Chicago.

All eyes will be on rookies during all NFL preseason games. Which ones are ready to take the next step immediately? Or, which rookies need more time to polish? We will find out quickly. For the Chiefs, this past April allowed them to create their largest draft class under general manager Brett Veach. They made 10 selections in total.

There will still be plenty of focus on names like the aforementioned Moore, as well as George Karlaftis and Trent McDuffie. At the same time, those are names that are expected to play a heavy dosage as rookies in 2022. There are also training camp studs and other underdogs that have quickly grown their respective hype. Here are a few names that are continuing to build positive foundations as the regular season draws closer.

For starters, running back Isiah Pacheco is lighting it up each and every day at training camp. His mix of power, size and speed is not replicated at the Chiefs running back spot. He is also the among the leading candidates for kick and punt return duty. Meanwhile, cornerback Joshua Williams is adjusting to the NFL scene rapidly. His instincts and length are perfect for a Chiefs team that plays a lot of man coverage. Finally, linebacker Leo Chenal is simply a menace on the second level of the defense. He loves to be physical and hit people. Can he continue to provide controlled punishment at the point of attack? Watch out for these rookies on Saturday afternoon.

We already hinted at the defensive tackle spot opposite of Jones being something to watch. This is not just for the other starting spot, either. Mainly, this defensive tackle position was one of the weaker spots on the depth chart, in terms of how deep it was. The Chiefs told you as such early this week, as they signed veteran defensive tackle Danny Shelton. Taylor Stallworth could prove to be a solid bargain addition. We know Derrick Nnadi is sound, though he is mainly a run stuffer. Does Khalen Saunders finally put it all together this year?

At defensive end, there are also a few names to watch for depth or rotational pieces. Can names like Mike Danna, Joshua Kaindoh or Malik Herring flash during pass rush reps in Chicago? If so, that should give the Chiefs even more confidence defensively, when looking at their defensive group that faces the most questions. The expectations may be varied for this group. But, Kansas City knows there is tremendous potential for the defensive line, if things go right. They have a chance to start out hot on Saturday afternoon.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles and analysis in the coming days. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

This article first appeared on Full Press Coverage and was syndicated with permission.

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