Chiefs News: Steve Spagnuolo calls defensive injuries ‘concerning’

The costume rehearsal for the 2024 common season was preseason Week 2 for the Kansas City Chiefs. The offense got here out and regarded the half, however the beginning protection nonetheless featured questions but to be answered.

Security Justin Reid was sidelined attributable to a quad damage, cornerback Jaylen Watson was unavailable to rotate in due to offseason labrum surgical procedure — and even linebacker Nick Bolton and defensive deal with Chris Jones had been held out as they work again to 100%.

It’s the continuation of a theme this preseason for the Chiefs’ protection: not having the whole unit obtainable all collectively. That has gotten to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who expressed his emotions on the unit nonetheless working to develop into entire.

“It’s extra irritating than annoying,” Spags informed reporters after observe on Tuesday. “I don’t consider we’ve had our high 11, 12, or 13 guys on the sphere for one play. That’s regarding and irritating.”

The shortage of taking part in time as a real first-team unit has affected the power to guage the cornerback place behind Trent McDuffie — however even then, the gamers battling for the spot are out and in. Nazeeh Johnson missed spurts of coaching camp attributable to damage, then sat out Monday’s observe with a hamstring designation; Joshua Williams additionally missed Monday due to a hamstring damage.

“It’s making it actually tough which method to go,” Spagnuolo stated of the cornerback competitors. “We have now yet another recreation, a few of these guys will play which might be nonetheless combating for jobs, however we are able to’t say that there’s a beginning different nook in all honesty.”

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The door has been left open by the trio of third-year cornerbacks for somebody like Keith Taylor, a fourth-year cornerback who signed to the Chiefs’ observe squad after final 12 months’s coaching camp. He spent all of 2023 with the group.

“He’s made numerous performs,” Spagnuolo famous on Taylor. “I feel he has had a extremely good camp. He’s proper within the combine within the battle. He has good dimension, so he’ll get on the market and play on this recreation. We’ll see the place he’s on the finish.”

Taylor has five career starts. He will not be the reply for the cornerback troubles, so the Chiefs could also be on the lookout for one other method to enhance the room earlier than taking part in the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.

“In case you had been to speak to (head coach) [Andy] Reid or (normal supervisor) Brett [Veach], I feel they’d let you know they’re at all times trying,” Spagnuolo responded when requested about the potential of including a veteran cornerback. “Sometimes Brett would come to me and say ‘hey, are you able to have a look at this man, or that man.’ I’m certain that can occur in these subsequent couple days.”

The potential addition would wish to assimilate shortly with the Chiefs as a result of the system is at its greatest when gamers are on the identical web page and assured with their duties. That’s what Spagnuolo remembers about final 12 months’s run to a championship.

“After we form of had it rolling and taking part in fairly good, numerous it needed to do with the chemistry of the fellows,” Spags regarded again. “That doesn’t simply all of the sudden occur in spite of everything this day without work. Bryan Cook dinner wasn’t right here for per week, Justin has been out for awhile, Nick. These are the chemistry guys, so we’ll simply must do it in observe within the subsequent two weeks earlier than we play Baltimore.”

With out coaching camp and extra preseason video games, the general public can be blind to the Chiefs’ progress on protection between now and the beginning of the common season. An exterior signing would sign a determined want, and that call can be made to make sure this crew can nonetheless compete for a championship.

The onus falls on Spagnuolo to determine primarily based on every little thing he is aware of and has realized in 16 years since turning into a defensive coordinator.

“We’ll must go together with a bit little bit of previous efficiency, guys with expertise,” Spagnuolo contemplated. “However sooner or later, you need to go together with your intestine.”