By MATT PIKE
As the Kansas City Chiefs continue practice at Missouri Western State University, the team cotninues to find ways to address some holes on the team, both in on the field personnel and leadership roles.
There is one big hole to fill in the Chiefs linebacking corps after losing Leo Chenal to free agency this offseason. Outside of veterans Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton, the Chiefs have a group of young and inexperienced linebackers, looking to fill that void.
Tranquill says there is a lot of competition in the room during this Training Camp.
"Obviously that SAM linebacker spot with Leo leaving, guys are competing for reps there. Guys just continue to compete across the board," Tranquill tells reporters after practice. "(Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags (Spagnuolo) does a good job of a lot of personnel groups, we all know that. Guys are out here in training camp to prove it and earn some reps."
Cooper McDonald and Jeffrey Bassa are two that are likely to compete for that spot. McDonald, an undrafted free agent last year, made the 53 man roster after impressing during Training Camp. Bassa was the Chiefs fifth round pick in 2025.
When it comes to filling a leadership role, that comes in a young wide receiver room. With veterans like Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith Schuster gone to free agency, the group will look to the older receivers in the room including Rashee Rice, Tyquan Thornton, and Xavier Worthy.
Worthy says he wants to be more of a leader this season, leading more by example than vocally.
"If guys need help, need wisdom in certain routes, I’ve kind of been here, I know a little bit now," Worthy explains. "Obviously, I’m a third year but just getting, still young, but getting guys obviously lined up, telling them ‘Oh, you can run this' on this play, just being that leader obviously letting guys know they can run certain routes certain ways.”
Outside of Rice, Thornton, Worthy, and Jason Brownlee, no receiver on the Chiefs roster has more than two years in the league. Kansas City will be looking for young receivers such as Jalen Royals and Cyrus Allen to contribute this year on the offense.
Another void the Chiefs will need to fill this season is at cornerback. Ater losing four this offseason in Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, and Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs addressed the position by drafting Mansoor Delane and Jadon Canady as well as signing L'Jarius Sneed and Kader Kohou.
Kohou is ready to get back to football, after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. Kohou says the most challenging days last year were the earlier portions of his injury when he couldn't walk, but says there was a silver lining to the injury.
" I feel like that year of sitting down I kind of learned a lot about myself and it kind of made me grow a little more love for football and cherish it a little more because it can get taken away at any time," Kohou says.
Now, Kohou is back at 100% and competing for a spot in the Chiefs secondary.
"Maybe going into OTA's I was a little, but the six weeks we took off was big and now I'm I think a year removed, so I'm good," Kohou says.
Kohou is battling with players such as Canaday and Chris Roland Wallace for the nickle corner position during Chiefs Training Camp.
There will be one more practice this week, tomorrow at 9:15am. The Chiefs will have an off day on Sunday before the first padded practice on Monday.
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