Chiefs Preseason Week 2 Snap Count Analysis: Jalen Royals Leads Offense

Welcome back to Arrowhead Pride’s weekly snap-count analysis!

During the preseason, we will shorten the analysis as it is difficult to make definitive statements based on the raw snap-count data. Still, let’s see what we can figure out about the Kansas City Chiefs when taking a closer look at playing time during the 16-15 loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday.

Starters (offensive): LT Jaylon Moore, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Mike Caliendo, RT Kahlil Benson, QB Justin Fields, WR Tyquan Thornton, WR Jalen Royals, WR Cyrus Allen, RB Kenneth Walker, TE Travis Kelce

Starters (defensive): DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Khyiris Tonga, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, LB Nick Bolton, LB Jeffrey Bassa, S Christian Roland-Wallace, CB Nohl Williams, CB Mansoor Delane, S Jaden Hicks, S Xavier Nwankpa

Did not play: QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Rashee Rice (Knee), WR Jimmy Holiday, RG Trey Smith (Hip), LT Josh Simmons (Back), S Chamarri Conner, LB Drue Tranquill (Back spasms), LB Jack Cochrane (Knee), CB L’Jarius Sneed (Knee), DE Ashton Gillotte (Hamstring), S Alohi Gilman (Low-back spasms), WR Jeff Weimer, WR Jeff Caldwell (Hyperextended knee), OT Kellen Diesch, TE Mason Pline, DT Omarr Norman-Lott (PUP)

The big takeaway

Second-year wide receiver Jalen Royals led all wideouts in snaps on offense (36). He also played five snaps on special teams. He led the entire offense in skill-position production, catching all six of his targets and gaining 51 yards.

What stood out the most over Royals’ playing time was his play strength after the ball gets in his hands. According to Pro Football Focus, Royals forced five missed tackles over the six times he caught a pass.

However, he also came back to the ball and secured it with strength on the 17-yard gain, courtesy of a nice play by rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. It was a strong performance for a player who needed to showcase more of his talents in live action.

The Offensive takeaway

After rookie offensive lineman Kahlil Benson took just six snaps with the starting offensive line at right guard in the preseason opener, Benson got an extended stretch of playing time at right tackle on Saturday night. He was on the field for 35 snaps, all of them on the right edge of the line.

The Chiefs needed to give Benson the live-action look against the Tampa Bay starting defensive front. It exposed Benson on two specific snaps, although those were the only two pressures he allowed over 25 pass-blocking opportunities (PFF).

The lingering question from this game about Benson will be where he lines up in the preseason finale. If right guard Trey Smith can return to the lineup, he needs to be playing alongside the Week 1 starter.

The Defensive takeaway

Rookie, second-round edge rusher R Mason Thomas was not among the first out on the field for the Chiefs’ starting defense, but he was a factor for the first-team unit. On an early third-and-11, Thomas flew up the field with his head and hands up, batting down a pass that was nearly lateral and staying with it through the whistle.

It was just one play that showed off his pass-rushing prowess, but there were a number of chances for Thomas to rush the passer. In fact, all 15 of Thomas’ defensive snaps in Tampa were against a pass play, and he did not drop into coverage on any of those reps.

PFF marked Thomas with four pressures over the 15 opportunities, including a quarterback hit.

Editor’s Note: Arrowhead Pride will present charts with updated snap-count data in this weekly post during the regular season.