The Chiefs’ kick return subunit used to consistently perform at a top-five level under special teams coordinator Dave Toub up until 2020.
Since then, Kansas City has struggled to find an above-average kick returner and surrounding squad to put up top-10 (sometimes top-16) numbers. 2022 was a middling year for the Chiefs’ kick return game, with the squad finishing 14th in kick return yards. Running back/returner Isiah Pacheco earned solid returns but ultimately finished 16th in average yards per return.
Buy Chiefs TicketsThe Chiefs’ kick return game will look quite a bit different in 2023 with a new kick returner in Richie James plus a handful of new blockers. This means there’s potential for improvement, so this will be one squad to keep an eye on.
Let’s take a look at those returning to the Chiefs’ kick return subunit this season, and those who are projected to contribute for the first time.
Top 2022 Chiefs kick return contributors
These 14 players earned the most kick return snaps for the Chiefs last season (including playoffs):
FB Michael Burton
S Deon Bush
LB Leo Chenal
LB Jack Cochrane
S Bryan Cook
TE Jody Fortson
TE Noah Gray
WR Marcus Kemp
CB Chris Lammons
LB Elijah Lee
RB Jerick McKinnon
RB Isiah Pacheco
CB Jaylen Watson
WR Justin Watson
Six of these players are not on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster to begin the 2023 season: Burton, Bush, Fortson, Kemp, Lammons, and Lee.
Burton, Kemp, Lammons, and Lee are either on other teams or are currently free agents. Bush is on the Chiefs’ practice squad, so he could receive a callup sometime this season if an injury occurs. Fortson would have likely made the Chiefs’ roster but is out for the season due to a shoulder injury.
It’ll be most difficult to replace Burton’s production in 2023. Burton was the team’s best blocker by far. Some of the others mentioned who left weren’t necessarily plus blockers on this subunit, so matching their production shouldn’t be difficult with new guys.
Projected 2023 Chiefs kick return contributors
New players in the mix for the kick return squad include:
S Chamarri Conner
CB Nic Jones
S Mike Edwards
CB Darius Rush
LB Cam Jones
WR/RS Richie James
Returning players who could contribute at some point, albeit not on a full-time basis, include:
S Bryan Cook
WR/RS Skyy Moore
RB/RS Isiah Pacheco
WR Rashee Rice
WR Justyn Ross
CB Jaylen Watson
WR Justin Watson
CB Joshua Williams
Though Toub’s starting kick return lineup will probably look different than what I project, my guess is Conner will replace Cook as the center now that Cook is the team’s starting safety on defense. Edwards should inherit the middle spot where Bush played last season.
With Jaylen Watson taking on an important role as the team’s third cornerback, it’d make sense for his right tackle spot and Lammons’ old right end spot to be swapped out for Nic Jones and Rush. There’s a slight chance a receiver, like Justin Watson, Rice, or Ross, takes one of those spots as well.
That leaves the three most important positions: the two upback spots and the kick returner role. The latter will be taken on by James, who was named the team’s starting returner by Toub. Pacheco could see some time there this season, but only in a pinch. The same goes for Moore. The upback spots will need to be taken by big guys, so Bell, Gray, or Cam Jones (or one of the other linebackers) could slide in there to replace Burton and Fortson.
If there’s an injury during the season, I could easily see Bush, tight end Matt Bushman, cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe, or linebacker Cole Christiansen taking on blocker roles if they’re called up. Potential returners on the Chiefs’ practice squad include receivers Cornell Powell and Montrell Washington, and running back Deneric Prince.
