Chamarri Conner remains a concern for Week 1. Reid characterized Conner as a “stretch” to play on Monday night. In contrast, starting safety Alohi Gilman is expected to be ready after practice. Conner injured his knee during training camp and did not participate in the preseason. After spending his first three seasons primarily at nickelback, Conner shifted to a full-time safety role this offseason, a position many view as better suited to his skill set. The Chiefs have several versatile defensive backs who can handle nickel duties, including Jadon Canady, Chris Roland-Wallace, and L’Jarius Sneed.
If Conner is unavailable, Jaden Hicks is next in line to step into the lineup. Hicks has four NFL starts across his first two seasons and has accumulated substantial playing time. He flashed potential during his rookie year, recording three interceptions and five passes defended. While Hicks has not yet secured a full-time starting role, he sits behind Gilman and Conner on the depth chart. Hicks is a versatile defender who can operate as a box safety, a deep safety, or even in nickel scenarios, and he has experience in multiple defensive packages. During the preseason, Hicks stood out by tallying 10 tackles and one sack, contributing prominently on defense and special teams and earning the honor of Kansas City’s highest-graded defender in exhibitions.
In summary, the Chiefs expect Mahomes to play, but several defensive plans may hinge on Conner’s availability. Gilman is anticipated to be ready, while Hicks remains a key depth option who could impact the rotation if Conner cannot go.
