After being elevated to the 53-man roster in December and playing an impressive role as a returner, it seemed like Remigio could be set to play a bigger part this season.

But two weeks into training camp, it hasn’t been obvious if that will be the case for the Kansas City Chiefs’ third-year wide receiver.

While his status as KC’s number one returner has been cemented, his role as a receiver doesn’t seem to be progressing in the same manner.

So, what does that mean for Remigio heading into the pre-season games?

Nikko Remigio is locked in as KC’s returner, but will that be enough to secure a roster spot?

Last week, special teams coordinator Dave Toub spoke glowingly about Remigio. “He [Remigio] is our best returner right now, whether in be punt or kick return,” Toub said at a recent post-camp press conference. “He just keeps getting better.”

Toub’s not wrong. In the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills, Remigio busted off this clutch 41-yard punt return.

It was a crucial play. It set Kansas City up to score a touchdown in a game they went on to win by a field goal. A few months later, and Remigio’s kick return abilities were on display at training camp too.

But while there’s been plenty of praise for his returning abilities, there hasn’t been much noise out of camp about Remigio as a receiver.

A bad omen for Remigio?

The first unofficial depth chart shows exactly where Remigio stands in the pecking order, and it isn’t exactly high up. Remigio wasn’t listed in the top six receivers.

Of course, he’s behind Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. But two other names ahead of him were more surprising—and potentially concerning.

The depth chart has Remigio behind Chiefs newcomer and training camp standout Tyquan Thornton, a player who’s been turning heads this summer.

Perhaps even more worryingly, Remigio is behind the much-maligned Skyy Moore, a player who seems to be fighting his own uphill battle to make the roster. Of course, this is just a preliminary and crucially unofficial depth chart. Its meaning is certainly limited.

But it still indicates where the Chiefs think things stand right now. If we think Josh Simmons and Kingsley Suamataia being listed as LT1 and LG1 is significant, then at least some weight has to be placed on Remigio’s position, too.

When speaking about the battle for roster spots among receivers, Toub said special teams will be a key consideration in who makes the team. “Special teams is going to be a factor when it comes right down to it, always is, every year,” Toub said.

That bodes well for Remigio. That he was ranked as both PR1 and KR1 on the first unofficial depth chart is also a good sign. But at what point is being a specialist returner no longer enough?

Will the Chiefs keep a one-trick pony?

Yes, Remigio looks like he could be good—maybe even great—as a returner. But is he so good that he demands a roster spot as a returner only, without offering help in the receiving game, too? I’m not so sure.

Wide receiver has been an area of concern for the Chiefs over the past two seasons. Injuries have tested their depth, and finding players who can consistently catch the ball has been problematic.

Even when options have been slim, the Chiefs haven’t looked Remigio’s way often on offense. He had two catches for 48 yards, but only six targets in five games. He also had a drop.

Remigio was the 8th-ranked WR for Kansas City last season, and he’s failed to make the team out of camp twice as a receiver. Are his returning skills enough to keep him on the team if other players like Thornton, Royals, or even Moore can offer more to the passing game?

If Royals, Thornton, and Moore can serve as trustworthy, average returners, that question becomes even more difficult. Would you rather have a 7-out-of-10 returner and 2/10 receiver (Remigio), or a 4/10 returner and 5/10 receiver (potentially Thornton, Royals, or someone else)? It’s a tough question.

Training camp is still underway and the full slate of preseason games is ahead of us, so there’s still time to see what Remigio offers as a receiver.  Just because things are quiet now, doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way.

But one thing is for sure: no matter what happens, Remigio is going to do everything he can to prove his worth. “I think the thing that I’ve learned with this business is that if you get too comfortable, you’re going to get got,” Remigio said after training camp practice last week.

“I worked too damn hard to get to this point in my career, to get to year three, to let it slip through my fingers. Really, I approach every day like I’m an undrafted rookie that barely got a shot to make it to the NFL and I’m scratching and clawing to just get an opportunity.”

If Remigio gets an opportunity at wide receiver this preseason, hopefully he can take it and run—just like his championship game punt return against the Bills.