Resting starters in Week 18 means more playing time for some prospects.
The Kansas City Chiefs enter Week 18’s matchup against the Denver Broncos with nothing to play for. Kansas City locked up the AFC West division crown a great while ago, which means the conference’s number one seed and home-field advantage were already clinched last week. This has led to the Chiefs announcing that some starters will not be out there against the Broncos. As a result, we could see some younger players looking to prove themselves in rare opportunities.
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Sometimes, fans see this week as meaningless, regardless of where their team sits in the standings. However, coaches can learn a lot about their players in spots like this. Overall, Kansas City will be looking for some younger players to further establish themselves as trusted depth pieces.
Here are three younger Chiefs players who could benefit from increased playing time in Week 18.
1. Carson Steele
Carson Steele got some early reps and touches at the start of the regular season. His role on special teams and as an occasional blocker have still been utilized in the middle to late part of the season. Steele is by far the youngest running back on the Chiefs’ roster. It would be nice to see what kind of performance he could give Kansas City with a more standard set of reps and touches.
The Chiefs have had some depth pieces step up in specific moments during past playoff runs with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. If Steele has a solid day against Denver, perhaps he can see some spot reps in the postseason when opponents are not expecting it. And even with this upcoming postseason not in mind, a strong showing from Steele on Sunday would give the Chiefs’ staff even more confidence surrounding him entering 2025.
2. Ethan Driskell
How Kansas City opts to use the offensive line, especially at offensive tackle, will be fascinating on Sunday. Just like Steele, Ethan Driskell is a rookie undrafted free agent who has worked on the team all year long. Offensive tackle remains to be a position in flux for the Chiefs going into 2025. If Driskell gets a chance against Denver, that will be a perfect test to show what he can do against a stingy defensive front.
Driskell offers excellent size. At 6’8” and with more than adequate arm length, this could be a blocker that the Chiefs are afraid to lose, while he is still young. No one will completely bang the table for Driskell to be a clear-cut starter next season. However, Kansas City can give him live reps to possibly earn a spot as a trusted piece that can be thrown in when necessary next year.
3. Cam Jones
The linebacker spot is pretty stacked for the Chiefs. Cam Jones, another former UDFA, may not get many shots to play defensive reps within the K.C. defense. He has flashed some and struggled some in the last couple of preseasons. But if there is anything we have learned about Jones in those exhibition showings, he can be physical and effective when working downhill.
If Jones is going to continue to be a special teams stalwart, the Chiefs could hope to still know what he may look like in a situation against live rounds, so to speak. Can he stay steady in a different setting? If so, Kansas City could rely on him when called upon for multiple years to come.