Chiefs Final Preseason Game: Biggest Position Battles

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The Kansas City Chiefs will close out the preseason with a home game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. With one final showcase opportunity, many players will be entering a make-or-break game, in hopes of making the Kansas City roster. There are some positions that have little to monitor on Saturday. On the flip side, some spots are going to come down to the wire, in terms of who may win the final spot at a given position.

What are the biggest position battles to watch for during the Chiefs final preseason game? Who possibly has a bit of momentum on their side? Finally, what traits may lead to specific players winning a position battle at a crucial spot? Let’s kick it off.

Backup Quarterback

The backup quarterback position is not a spot that appeared to be tight, when it came to the decision for roster spots. At least not initially in training camp. Fast forward to the final week of the preseason, and Shane Buechele is making a push to be the QB2 in Kansas City. Buechele has been with the Chiefs for a few years now. But of course, he has been limited to the practice squad after some brief flashes in the preseason beforehand. Now in 2023, Buechele has dominated in the preseason and has continued to turn heads.

Andy Reid acknowledged how close this position battle is going into the final preseason game. At the same time, we do know how much he and Kansas City like having a proven veteran as the backup to Patrick Mahomes. That could aid Blaine Gabbert‘s chances to still being the QB2. We could also see the Chiefs keep three quarterbacks, overall, due to the new third quarterback rule that was passed this offseason. Either way, this is a position battle that has somewhat come out of nowhere.

RB4

The Chiefs appear likely to keep four running backs to start the 2023 regular season. The trio of Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are all safe. Meanwhile, the final spot will most likely go to La’Mical Perine or Deneric Prince.

Prince was strong in the early portions of training camp. His ability to add substance as a pass catcher and returner could help his case to making the KC roster. As a rookie UDFA, he is one of the most intriguing players to watch on Saturday, altogether.

Perine has been a bit more steady of these two lately, from a performance perspective. This is a running back that may not offer quite as much as Prince does in the passing game. But if called upon, Perine could easily handle the dirty work of running in between the tackles.

Backup Offensive Tackles

Backup offensive tackle is a position battle that will not necessarily dominate headlines. Yet, this is always important depth to have, as offensive line consistency is difficult to come by for any NFL team. The main names to monitor here are Lucas Niang and Prince Tega Wanogho. Both players could very well make the roster. Niang has a history of starting games under this regime. Though, his injury history and up-and-down play can make you hold your breath. As for Wanogho, this player has the length and athleticism that NFL teams covet at offensive tackle. Does he have the technique and play strength to be leaned on, if called upon, however?

Final Cornerback Spot(s)

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The top of the cornerback depth chart is basically set in stone. On the other hand, the Chiefs have some challenging decisions to make at the final cornerback spot(s). Nic Jones was exciting to watch in training camp and in the first preseason game. The rookie seventh-round pick suffered some fractured fingers in that first preseason showing, though. He could be healthy enough by the time Week 1 commences. If not, Jones could technically open the year on the 53-man roster and be shuffled to injured reserve, perhaps. That is if he needs more recovery time.

Whether he is on the 53-man roster or not, Kansas City has seen others like Ekow Boye-Doe, Kahlef Hailassie and Lamar Jackson shine in various moments. Jackson has slight experience from past stops with other organizations. As for Boye-Doe and Hailassie, they are hoping to make one last impact on Saturday to prove that they can hang. Will any of these three win a final spot?

Honorable Mention: Wide Receiver

Wide receiver is only going to be used as an honorable mention. Coach Reid did mention that the wide receiver battle was still going to be fascinating to watch this week. But overall, it feels like Kansas City is largely set in their decision at the position. Justyn Ross has been stellar with his development and has made necessary progress on the field. Knowing how the organization operates, it would be a bit shocking if Ross did not make the team, given how much press time and airtime he has received on their various team accounts.

Finally, Justin Watson may not have felt much pressure for his spot. The Nikko Remigio injury certainly solidified his position on the team, however. Watson will likely be counted on for special teams reps, as well as being used occasionally in the offense.

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

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.