Concerns arise regarding the Chiefs’ secondary unit following preseason opener injuries

Super Bowl LIX: Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia Eagles

The Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary delivered some big hits against the Arizona Cardinals in the preseason opener, but the unit also absorbed two major injury concerns in the first half.

Not only did the Chiefs watch cornerback Jaylen Watson leave with a concussion early in the game, but safety Deon Bush was also carted off with a leg injury that was later revealed to be an Achilles. Both players were declared out for the rest of the game by the Chiefs.

Other Chiefs players who sought attention from trainers so far in the first preseason game were linebackers Jeffrey Bassa and Cam Jones.

The injury hits to the secondary are significant for the Chiefs at this point. Here’s a look at what each means for the team.

Deon Bush, Achilles

An Achilles injury is a very serious one, and it could signal the end of Bush’s season before it ever got going.

A longtime favorite of Dave Toub, Bush has been a reliable special teams player for the Chiefs for the last three seasons. On the defensive side, Bush is a limited safety who has seen decreasing snaps during his three-year stint with the Chiefs (although he never received many in the first place).

Bush was a likely candidate to make the practice squad if he didn’t land a spot on the team’s active roster, which didn’t seem likely with the presence of Mike Edwards behind young safeties like Jaden Hicks, Bryan Cook, and Chamarri Conner.

Jaylen Watson, concussion

Watson profiles as an obvious starter outside in the Chiefs’ secondary, so the loss of Watson for any length of time is going to be a major hit for a unit trying still trying to find the best ways to utilize everyone involved.

Unfortunately for Watson, he also suffered a significant injury last season and missed all but six games for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense after being forced to have surgery on his ankle.

Watson is coming into an important season, not only for the Chiefs’ defense, but on a personal level as well. In his fourth year, Watson is scheduled to hit free agency next spring and will make a lot more money on his second deal—whether with Kansas City or another NFL franchise.

The Chiefs have struggled to sort out their corners so far in training camp, because another assumed boundary corner, Kristian Fulton, has been forced to miss time on the team’s Physically Unable To Play list. Fulton only recently returned to practice following a dozen missed practices in training camp at St. Joseph.

With Fulton and Watson healthy, the Chiefs have the luxury to slide Trent McDuffie inside to man the slot corner role. That allows players like Nazeeh Johnson and Chamarri Conner to rotate as depth pieces, while third-round rookie Nohl Williams gets a chance to learn the ropes without being thrown to the wolves.

Concussion protocols are quite serious and will force the Chiefs to be cautious with Watson’s potential timeline and return, but there’s no doubt K.C. would take the same approach either way. The start of the regular season is still nearly a month away, when they face the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Friday, September 5. That’s the only date that matters at this point.

Related Posts

REPORT: NFL Fans Sound Off on Dak Prescott’s Bold Cowboys Claim

Coming off an injury-filled season, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is feeling confident. The veteran passer has a lot to prove after his team struggled mightily through…

OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Green Bay Packerѕ рlayer Jordan Love іѕѕueѕ a ѕіncere aрology to fanѕ for fallіng ѕhort of hіѕ uѕual рerformance ѕtandardѕ, reѕultіng іn a narrow defeat to the New York Jetѕ. The underlyіng reaѕon behіnd hіѕ aрology haѕ evoked an emotіonal reѕрonѕe from fanѕ, garnerіng wіdeѕрread ѕymрathy…

In the world of professional sports, post-game interviews often feature standard lines — “We’ll learn from this,” “We’ll bounce back,” “It’s just one game.”

Green Bay Packerѕ: Coach Matt LaFleur Deemѕ Stunnіng Defeat to Jetѕ a Humblіng Ordeal, Yet Identіfіeѕ One Player Who Demonѕtrated Exceрtіonal Performance

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur thinks they played sloppy football vs Jets but Anthony Belton made good account of himself in the loss.

TRAVIS’ LOVE-FILLED PHOTO BOMB: Travіѕ Kelce’ѕ $1M Heart-Meltіng Pіcѕ wіth Taylor Swіft Send 25 Mіllіon Swіftіeѕ іnto a Frenzy! Publіc Dateѕ and Famіly Hangѕ Prove Theіr $10M Romance Iѕ Drama-Free! Iѕ Thіѕ Theіr Haрріly Ever After? See the Blіѕѕ Below!

TRAVIS’ LOVE-FILLED PHOTO BOMB: Travis Kelce’s $1M Heart-Melting Pics with Taylor Swift Send 25 Million Swifties into a Frenzy!

🚨 NFL SHOCKWAVE: Patrіck Mahomeѕ Iѕѕueѕ STUNNING Ultіmatum to Chіefѕ — “If Kaeрernіck Joіnѕ, I’m DONE!” 😱🔥 A ѕudden, exрloѕіve claѕh haѕ eruрted іn Kanѕaѕ Cіty aѕ ѕtar QB Patrіck Mahomeѕ delіverѕ a career-ѕhakіng threat, forcіng head coach Andy Reіd to fіre back іn dramatіc faѕhіon. The locker room іѕ tenѕe, fanѕ are іn dіѕbelіef, and the future of the franchіѕe may hang by a thread…

The Kansas City Chiefs are at the center of a media firestorm following a stunning statement from superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who reportedly issued an ultimatum to team leadership: “The moment Colin Kaepernick steps onto this team, I’m out — gone for good.” The explosive remark, which was first reported Tuesday morning by insiders close to the organization, has ignited controversy across the NFL and prompted an immediate response from head coach Andy Reid.

🚨👀 “Mahomeѕ Baby BOMBSHELL!” Fanѕ GASP Aѕ Patrіck & Brіttany Secretly Droр SHOCK Fіrѕt Pіcѕ of Bronze, Sterlіng, And Baby Golden—But Waіt Untіl You See What’ѕ In Baby Golden’ѕ Hand!

We’re ѕtіll ріckіng our jawѕ uр off the floor. рatrіck and Brіttany Mahomeѕ juѕt broke the іnternet after ѕecretly droрріng the fіrѕt-ever рhotoѕ of Bronze, ѕterlіng, and…