Chiefs find positive developments in preseason loss to Cardinals
Roland-Wallace, Brownlee and others stood out in Chiefs' first exhibition game of the 2025 season.
The Kansas City Chiefs' first exhibition got off on the right note straight from the get-go. Special team’s coordinator Dave Toub had to have been a happy man when Harrison Butker’s opening kickoff had the result that it did.
There was a sea of special teamers swarming to the return man, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch, but it was Chiefs linebacker Jack Cochrane who made the punch on the ball.
Second-year slot-corner Chris Roland-Wallace was there for the recovery, which was just the beginning of a nice night for the former USC Trojan. Roland-Wallace rounded out the game with an interception of Clayton Tune and three tackles as well.
Due to that initial fumble recovery, quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ night ended rather quickly. With great field possession, it took just two plays to find Jason Brownlee for a touchdown on a fade route along the endzone boundary.
The back-shoulder pass was placed in such a way that only the three-year veteran could get his hands on it. While Kansas City lost preseason week one, 20-17, the Mahomes-Brownlee connection got them off to a quick 7-0 lead, which concluded Mahomes' night.
“There were some good things, even though it didn’t come off that way, but the ‘ones,’ (starters) I thought played well when they were in,” head coach Andy Reid said. “... They were sharp. After that, (we were) too sloppy.”
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The Chiefs' new backup quarterback, Gardner Minshew, picked up right where his incumbent left off. The seven-year veteran went 6-for-9, tossing 54 yards, to go along with a wide-open two-yard touchdown rush to put Kansas City up 14-3.
He played behind the first-team offensive line for a bit and his go-to targets were former second-round pick Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Royals.
For those keeping track, both Thornton and Brownlee were on the field for Mahomes' little bit of snaps. After the game, Reid spoke of giving a guy like Brownlee an opportunity with the top team.
“He's played well (in training camp), so give him an opportunity to get in there and play,” Reid said. “He knows how to use his size and he had some nice plays the rest of the way too. As far as routes... (he) didn't have the catches, but he had some good routes there. I thought he was in a position where he deserved to get in there and get playing time.”
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Other key standouts were tight end Robert Tonyan and new starting safety Jaden Hicks. Tonyan hauled in passes from both Minshew and Bailey Zappe, ultimately leading the Chiefs in receiving with 49 yards on three catches.
While Tonyan is trying to stake his claim as the Chiefs' third tight end, Hicks fully took over former star safety Justin Reid’s spot in the lineup for the first time tonight.
The 6-foot-1, 215 safety rewarded defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s confidence in him with an interception of Kyler Murray on Arizona’s first drive of the game.
The Chiefs' lone sack came from edge rusher Janarius Robinson and rookie fifth-rounder Jeffrey Bassa led the team in tackles, with six.
Nikko Remigio had a solid night of staking his claim for a roster spot. He returned a kickoff 48 yards and hauled in two of his three targets for 24 yards. Speaking of special teams, Butker drilled a 58-yarder with room to spare.
Zappe struggled for nearly two quarters, going 8-for-17 with two interceptions. That, and 10 penalties for 108 yards throughout the game, led to Kansas City coughing up the lead.
Kansas City quarterbacks were only sacked once the entire game, which has to be music to Chiefs Kingdom’s ears. The starting offensive line, including rookie left tackle Josh Simmons and second-year left guard Kingsley Suamataia, garnered 11 snaps.
“I wasn't screaming at (Simmons), so I figured he did okay,” Reid said. “He looked like he had a solid day, especially for his first game; he's been working his tail off. That kid never complains about anything; he just goes. He and Kingsley (Suamataia) are trying to develop something over there and they haven't missed any snaps. We'll see how it all works out and sorts out, but I thought for the first time out they did a nice job.”
The Chiefs did not come out of the game unscathed, with safety Deon Bush exiting with an apparent serious achilles injury and cornerback Jaylen Watson getting sent through concussion protocol. Reid said Bush is likely heading for surgery.
On six days' rest, the Chiefs will suit up again in Seattle this Friday at 9 p.m. CDT against the Seahawks.
