Top 5 Chiefs Players to Watch in Preseason Opener vs. Cardinals

In the blink of an eye, Kansas City Chiefs football is almost back. The reigning AFC champions will soon embark on their quest for another year of contention, and there’s no shortage of stars to help lead the way.

With that said, some of Andy Reid’s lesser-known players will stand out this preseason. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes doesn’t need the reps (and may not get as many as Reid says he will). It all starts with an August 9 preseason outing against the Arizona Cardinals.

There are endless options to choose from, but five particular players are worth monitoring on the field at State Farm Stadium.

1: Chiefs First-Round Pick, LT Josh Simmons

When the Chiefs signed Jaylon Moore this offseason, many believed that meant the team had him as its starting left tackle for 2025-26. Every moment since the April draft pickup of Josh Simmons, however, has indicated the opposite.

Throughout the offseason program, Simmons has stood out at every step of the way. The Ohio State product is now on the other side of a patellar tendon injury and has fully participated in training camp. He looks the part, and Kansas City hasn’t shied away from hyping him up in recent weeks. Even Reid himself is pleased with the first-rounder’s progress.

Against the Cardinals, Simmons will get his first taste of NFL action. How he fares alongside 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia will be telling. The two haven’t always picked up stunts and games with fluidity at practice. Although it’s unlikely that Arizona will unleash a bizarre defensive game plan on Saturday, every rep can still tell a story.

If Simmons puts up a solid unofficial debut, the hype train for him being Kansas City’s Week 1 starter might break speed records.

2: RB Brashard Smith

The top of the Chiefs’ running back room is set. Isiah Pacheco, coming off an injury-shortened 2024 campaign, is finally healthy. The football world should know early on whether he’s the same player he once was or if a broken fibula sapped him of some athleticism. Behind him, Kareem Hunt remains a useful short-yardage weapon even at the age of 30.

Kansas City has a pair of wild cards within that group, though. One of them is veteran Elijah Mitchell, who broke onto the scene with the San Francisco 49ers years ago. With that said, he hasn’t put up a consistent or productive season in quite a while. He’s also a significant injury risk. Whatever Mitchell provides should be considered icing on the cake. The same is true for rookie Brashard Smith.

Smith, a seventh-round pick, seems to produce a new highlight each practice. He’s an athletic specimen and a converted wide receiver. He also has special teams versatility, which could prove to be the difference. Smith needs to not only show that he’s a capable and versatile piece, but he must do the little things like pass protect. His roster candidacy is still up in the air. A solid showing on Saturday might sway the math.

3: WR Tyquan Thornton

Like the running back collective, the Chiefs generally know what they’re looking at atop the wide receiver depth chart. Some combination of Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster makes up that range. Someone like Nikko Remigio or Jalen Royals could make the fifth spot. In the battle for jobs up for grabs, former New England Patriots second-round pick Tyquan Thornton looks like he’s coming down with the reception.

Thornton, a speedy wideout with length, is enjoying a tremendous camp. He feels the Chiefs were the right fit for him. The 25-year-old still possesses some upside. His chemistry with Mahomes is evident during practices in St. Joseph, MO. That factor certainly matters.

It’s how Thornton performs in the preseason, though, that could determine whether he makes the team. Jelling with signal-callers like Gardner Minshew and even old teammate Bailey Zappe will be the ultimate test. If Thornton makes a big play or two on Saturday, expect the buzz to grow even louder.

4: DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah

When a team selects a player in the first round of the draft, they expect high-level contributions. After two seasons, former No. 31 overall pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah has yet to deliver anything close to that. He has just 41 tackles and 3 sacks to his name across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

After logging 218 regular-season snaps as a rookie, the Kansas State product rose to 332 reps a year ago. The presence of players like George Karlaftis, Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu limit the ceiling to his 2025-26 workload. That makes every preseason snap that much more important, as they’re primary sources of potential on-field development.

As a third-year player now, Anudike-Uzomah should look NFL ready and proficient. It’s similar to non-rookies who play in the NBA Summer League. Those who have experience in the circuit shouldn’t resemble those who are new to it. Anudike-Uzomah’s roster spot is secure, but the Chiefs would feel better about him if he shines in Arizona.

5: CB Joshua Williams

Last, but certainly not least, the Kansas City cornerback room is interesting. The top of the leaderboard is pretty clear, assuming Kristian Fulton is able to eventually play following his debut at training camp. Thanks to a stellar 2022 NFL Draft class that features Trent McDuffie, there’s considerable depth at the position. Not everyone seems safe, however, Joshua Williams included.

Not everyone believes Williams is secure in his roster spot. While he’s able to play special teams, he doesn’t do so consistently and committed penalties a year ago. On defense, he’s an up-and-down physical cornerback with traits that don’t always translate to football IQ. His regular-season peak for percentage of snaps played is 38.

A year ago, Williams was projected by many as the Chiefs’ second cornerback in the rotation. Now, he’s closer to sixth than he is the high end of the depth chart. If he plays deep into Saturday’s game, that could signal either his position on the ladder, the team’s interest in his development, or both.

This game has a sneaky-big importance for the former fourth-round pick.