It was another bittersweet victory for the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, as KC appears to have lost starting cornerback Jaylen Watson long-term.
However, injury after injury have yet to slow down the Kansas City machine that is the Chiefs under head coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo — so who will step up with Watson sidelined? Reid hinted that third-year CB Nazeeh Johnson will get the first opportunity to start opposite Trent McDuffie in Week 8.
“Every week he’s gotten better and stronger,” the Chiefs HC said of Johnson on October 21. “So, that’s the main thing.”
“He’s a good player, it’s that he has the confidence in his leg and the leg is strong, and that just happens by playing [more],” Reid continued. “So, every week it’s been a positive [trajectory for Johnson] going forward.”
The Chiefs head coach is referencing Johnson’s torn ACL that occurred in July of 2023. Something Johnson has been battling back from all offseason.
“He’s ready for the spot,” Reid concluded, regarding Johnson’s potential bump in playing time beginning against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 27. And it appears as if he’ll get it, at least initially.
Chiefs Could Alternate Nazeeh Johnson & Joshua Williams as Starting CBs, Depending on Matchup
Although Reid and Spagnuolo gave Johnson the initial vote of confidence — both on the field as the snap leader after Watson’s injury and in the Monday press conference — the former also left the door open for fellow third-year CB Joshua Williams.
“[Number] 2 has also been in there, he’s done it,” Reid said of Williams. “So, he knows what it takes.”
Building off that, the Chiefs head coach noted that Johnson and Williams have “two different body types,” adding that the team will “need both of them.”
You might recall that Spagnuolo prefers to choose one cornerback and start them for the bulk of each game, rather than rotate at the position. Having said that, the Chiefs DC is not opposed to rotating week-to-week.
For example, Watson and Williams rotated a bunch as rookies. They rarely split snaps during a game, but they did switch on and off as the starter, depending on the wide receiver matchup each week. That could be the case with Johnson and Williams for the remainder of the 2024 campaign.
“They both need to step up,” Reid challenged on Monday, October 21. “Watson was having a heck of a year. So, now these guys have an opportunity here to step in and do the same.”
Chiefs Rookie DB Christian Roland-Wallace Shines in Real Defensive Debut vs. 49ers
Although undrafted rookie Christian Roland-Wallace technically debuted on defense against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5, with one coverage snap, he was really called upon versus the San Francisco 49ers with 15 defensive snaps in Week 7.
Roland-Wallace was a surprise summer breakout that stole a roster spot ahead of the 53-man cutdown in August, and he’s been a steady special teamer for Kansas City all season.
Now it appears Spagnuolo trusts him enough to play him on defense, however, and the UDFA rewarded his coordinator by recording an interception, a QB hit, and an impressive 19.8 passer rating allowed in coverage according to Pro Football Focus.
If you’re wondering why Roland-Wallace received extra usage on Sunday, and not drafted rookie Jaden Hicks — another preseason standout — that could have something to do with their specific roles. Roland-Wallace was utilized almost solely as a slot CB in Week 7, with 14 snaps as the nickel and one lined up inside the box. Hicks has been one of the main backup safeties behind Justin Reid and Bryan Cook.
With those two playing well and remaining healthy, we haven’t seen too much of Hicks on defense so far. Roland-Wallace on the other hand is serving as more of a backup — or perhaps, future competition — for second-year defensive back Chamarri Conner in a nickel-hybrid role.
At cornerback, Johnson outsnapped Williams 21 to 12 against the Niners.
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