Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has done a really good job of making the wide receiver roster battle one of the deepest and most competitive each spring and summer, and this time it was veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster who reminded media and fans of this on day one of mandatory minicamp.
“JuJu Smith-Schuster had a great day with several impressive catches,” Chiefs team reporter Matt McMullen noted after practice. One of which was sent out by the KC social media team on X.
Had to slow this one down for ya 😮💨
In the highlight-reel clip, quarterback Patrick Mahomes finds Smith-Schuster in the back of the end zone between two closing defenders for a precise toe-tapping touchdown grab.
But that wasn’t all Smith-Schuster did to help solidify his roster claim on Tuesday.
“On the first play of 11-on-11, RB Isiah Pacheco lined out wide and beat CB Trent McDuffie down the right sideline, catching a pass that likely would have went for a touchdown,” Arrowhead Pride’s Pete Sweeney recalled after practice. Adding: “WR JuJu Smith-Schuster fought off McDuffie to bring in a pass a few plays later.”
Sweeney also shouted out Smith-Schuster’s aforementioned toe-tap TD and an “impressive diving catch” during 7-on-7s. All in all, the beat reporter tallied four Mahomes targets for the trusty vet pass-catcher during 11-on-11s, not to mention the 7-on-7s highlights.
Needless to say, all this factored into Sweeney pointing out that “the back-end of the WR room is one of the more interesting deep battles heading to summer.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster Is Still Likely to Secure a Roster Spot Despite Chiefs’ Logjam at Wide Receiver
Smith-Schuster didn’t speak at the podium on June 17 or say anything publicly, but that didn’t stop him from sending a very clear reminder. He’s still got it, and unlike other wide receivers on this KC roster, the physical veteran’s game gets even more useful once the pads come on.
The Chiefs’ coaching staff loves Smith-Schuster and what he brings to the table, as does Mahomes.
He’s an above-average run blocker, intelligent route runner, aware scheme fit, and he has built a dependable chemistry with his quarterback. All that adds up to Smith-Schuster making the 53-man roster, and if that’s the case, things become even tougher for all those pushing for spots behind him.
Barring injury, the combination of Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Jalen Royals and Smith-Schuster makes a pretty likely top five. That leaves one or maybe two spots for everyone else.
Chiefs WRs Show Out at Mandatory Minicamp
Smith-Schuster may have been the best Chiefs wide receiver on June 17, but he wasn’t the only one who made plays.
“Rashee Rice and [tight end] Travis Kelce each hauled in TDs during red zone drills,” per McMullen, and “WR Jason Brownlee made a great, leaping catch downfield during 11-on-11.”
Sweeney confirmed those plays, too, and he also alerted fans about an “outstanding catch” by popular camp hero Justyn Ross on an “out-breaking route to the right sideline.”
Later, Ross caught a touchdown from backup QB Gardner Minshew, per Sweeney, with his first catch coming via third-stringer Chris Oladokun. Undrafted rookie Elijhah Badger also got in on the fun with a “one-handed grab from Oladokun just inside the front right pylon.”
Although they were all quieter on day one of minicamp, Chiefs wide receivers Nikko Remigio, Tyquan Thornton, Skyy Moore and undrafted rookie Mac Dalena have all had their moments throughout OTAs as this camp competition begins to heat up.
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