The Pro Football Writers of America have announced their annual All-Rookie team. Two rookies of the Kansas City Chiefs have been recognized among the best at their position in their introductory NFL seasons. The Chiefs were among six other teams to also have two rookies selected to the team.
Chiefs fourth-round draft pick L’Jarius Sneed was one of the two players recognized at his position along with Minnesota Vikings CB Cameron Dantzler. Sneed burst onto the scene early in his career filling in for suspended veteran Bashaud Breeland. By Week 2, Sneed was the NFL’s interception leader. He’d see his first helping of NFL adversity in Week 3 when he suffered a fractured collarbone.
Sneed wouldn’t return until Week 11 and when he returned he was playing an entirely different position, operating as the team’s nickel corner. He met the challenge head-on and continues to impress at the position. Sneed finished the regular season with nine games played and six starts, recording 41 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, seven passes defended and three interceptions. He’s already recorded a sack in the Chiefs’ postseason campaign.
Undrafted free agent Tommy Townsend, the other Chiefs rookie recognized, secured the only space for a punter on the All-Rookie team. He had big shoes to fill when he signed in Kansas City, replacing 15-year veteran punter Dustin Colquitt. He’s attacked that challenge and proven to be one of the top young punters in the game.
Townsend has done about as good of a job as you could possibly ask for from a rookie. He finished the year with 52 punts for a total of 2,339 yards, averaging 45 yards per punt with a long punt of 69 yards. He also completed a 13-yard pass attempt on a fake punt against the New York Jets in Week 8. He didn’t have a punt in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs, but signs only point to more success for the rookie from here on out.
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