Sometimes an opportunity arises from injury.
The Kansas City Chiefs have suffered a wave of injuries at the tight end position, with both Deon Yelder and Ricky Seals-Jones sidelined by injuries at training camp. Those two injuries have opened things up for practice squad tight end Nick Keizer to carve out a significant role for himself during the course of training camp.
Keizer joined the Chiefs in May of 2019 after being released by the Baltimore Ravens. He performed well in training camp and posted top PFF grades at the tight end position throughout the preseason with the team. Keizer didn’t make the 53-man roster but spent the entire season learning and working on the practice squad for Kansas City. He was even the first player signed to a reserve/future deal by the Chiefs following Super Bowl LIV.
It’s clear that Keizer has made strides since 2019 and now he’s taking full advantage of this newfound opportunity. Throughout training camp, Keizer has been lining up as the No. 2 tight end opposite Travis Kelce in 12 personnel groupings.
“Nick has done a good job,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid said during Wednesday’s press conference. “He’s getting better every day. He’s a smart kid, tough kid, and he has a good mentor there with [Travis Kelce], so he gets to see it done the right way. I’m asking all those guys, just try to get yourself better every day, work through it. We ask a lot out of that position within the run game and the pass game, and if you’re not focused in every day that you come out and disciplined, then you’re going to take a step backward. So, they’ve done a good job with it—Nick being one of them there that I think is really working hard at getting himself to where he’s one of the guys.”
Kelce continues to be the focal point of the offense at the tight end position. However, it’s crucial for the Chiefs to have two capable tight ends when they run 12 personnel. Blake Bell played the No. 2 tight end in Kansas City last season, lining up opposite from Kelce in 12 personnel. Bell, of course, signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent this offseason. It’s crucial to replace Bell as the Chiefs lined up in 12 personnel over 30 percent of the time last season, good for the fourth-most in the NFL.
While Keizer has been getting those No. 2 repetitions opposite Kelce, he’s also getting repetitions with the second team while the Chiefs have been short-handed at the position. All of the experience that he’s been getting now can only help.
“I like the fact that you’re highlighting that he’s getting a lot of reps,” Chiefs TE Coach Tom Melvin said to reporters on Thursday. “He’s done a great job with that. He was with us a year ago, so for him, it’s basically just putting data in his hard drive by getting more reps. He’s doing a great job with it. He’s much better in the passing game, down the field. He’s pretty good on the end of the line of scrimmage. We’re really happy with the amount of experience that he’s getting now, especially with the ones to run against a number one defense.”
Keizer’s role in 12 personnel packages will primarily be to work in as a blocker. But it’s good to note that he’s also showing improvement as a receiver. His growth is even having an impact on young players in Kansas City, like Willie Gay Jr., who mentioned Keizer as someone who is, “making me better each and every day.”
It’s still early, with just under three weeks to go until the season opener, but given how things are shaping up, Keizer could very well earn the No. 2 tight end job in Kansas City this season.
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