Arrowhead Pride
Whether you’re a student enjoying a break or a young player trying to make an NFL team, summers go by quickly,
All of sudden, your Kansas City Chiefs are taking the field for their first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in suburban Phoenix. For the team’s young players, the window for making a training camp impression is starting to close.
While Saturday night’s final score won’t mean anything, the vibes might be very important. We’ve been hearing about the extra motivation for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and other Kansas City stars who want to get that taste of February’s Super Bowl loss out of their collective mouths. We’ve also been getting plenty of nuggets from training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph (thanks, Pete Sweeney!), giving us glimpses of exciting rookies, roster battles and reclamation projects.
That’s what the preseason is all about. It’s competition, hope and optimism — along with opportunities seized and squandered.
Here are a few of the Chiefs who are trending before Saturday night’s matchup.
Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton: If you like, you can call me a late adopter, hater or skeptic. But I’m finally starting to get on board with the idea that Thornton might make an NFL comeback in Kansas City. At 6 feet 2, he’s got the size and speed that recent Chiefs teams have desired. Thornton might even have more talent than some of those guys — and he’s still only 24 years old! In camp, he’s done everything possible to impress observers, while building chemistry and timing with Mahomes. In the preseason, Thornton will have to prove that he is more than just this season’s camp sensation.
Left tackle Josh Simmons: The momentum we’ve seen to this point has been incredible. It felt like everyone agreed that Simmons was the Chiefs’ most likely first-round pick — and he was. Then it seemed like he was on track to be healthy for the season — and he is. Now he’s locked in as the starting left tackle spot — and expectations are high. During his first NFL action on Saturday, a great many eyes will be on Kansas City’s offensive line — not to mention the man who seems destined to anchor it for the foreseeable future. Simmons is certain to leave an impression. It’s hard to imagine it won’t be positive.
Defensive back Chamarri Conner: The secondary’s youth movement could be both exciting and frustrating in 2025. Following the departure of Justin Reid, second-year safety Jaden Hicks is the room’s most likely leader. But it may be Conner who has the most to gain this season. While Conner has been useful during his first two seasons, he’s certainly had his struggles, too. Most would agree that he needs to find a role that suits him — one in which he can attack the football, rather than trail in coverage. Still only 24 years old, Conner could see action...
