A week after an embarrassing performance on special teams, which included turning a kickoff return into a safety, the Chiefs made amends in their second preseason game.
In a 24-23 loss to the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead, the Chiefs averaged 32 yards on three kickoffs and 20.7 yards on three punts.
Skyy Moore returned a kickoff 42 yards and Nikko Remigio returned a punt 42 yards. The Chiefs were unable to score on either big play, but the return teams did their job.
This week, in the final days of training camp at Missouri Western, the focus of practice was on improving the return game, especially with the new kickoff rules that require the blocking action to begin closer to the returner.
“When we implemented the new kickoff rule, nobody really knew what was going on. We’re still learning,” said rookie running back Carson Steele, who threw a 36-yard kickoff return. “We adjusted, corrected some things and came back strong.”
A week earlier in Jacksonville, the Jaguars were called for a safety when Mecole Hardman took the ball down with his knee in the end zone at the 1. Players and coaches weren’t sure what happened. On Saturday, the Chiefs returned every kick, blocked well and put the offense in good position.
“You saw that today,” said Louis Rees-Zammit, who added a 27-yard kickoff return. “There were some great returns. The more games we play, the more tactics you’ll see.”
In the midst of a mostly successful day for the special teams, another development occurred. In the second quarter, long snapper James Winchester suffered a shoulder injury and an emergency center, tight end Noah Gray, was called upon.
With just moments to prepare, Gray was called up for two snaps. He got the ball rolling on a 56-yard field goal by Harrison Butker and snapped it to punter Matt Araiza, who returned a 61-yard kick.
Both balls were a little wobbly, but they got there. Gray, the fourth-year pro, took his first snaps… of every game.
“We just did what we had to do at the time,” Gray said. “I didn’t get any reps in training camp.”
When he got the call, Gray got tips from Butker, Araiza and Jay White, an assistant equipment manager and former punter at Missouri Western.
“There are a lot of little, technical things that I really never thought about,” Gray said. “These guys did a great job training me in such a short amount of time. Nerve-racking for sure. But it was a lot of fun.”
Travis Kelce was an emergency long snapper who would normally be a tight end. But he was out of the game.
Winchester returned to the game in the second half.
“Noah came in and did a great job,” Winchester said. “Things happen, you kind of take it as it comes, but this was new territory for me.”
The Chiefs have played 147 regular season games and 22 playoff games since Winchester joined the team in 2015. In none of them has he missed an opportunity for a long snap. But on Gray’s two snaps, Winchester was in the locker room receiving treatment.
“It was a very excluded feeling,” Winchester said. “But there’s only one snapper on the roster. The guys have to be ready.”
