While the Kansas City Chiefs offense has been able to rely on Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce as consistent targets in the passing game, the team has been searching for another receiver to step up and produce.
After Skyy Moore’s placement on the injured reserve list and Kadarius Toney’s continued struggles with dropped passes, veteran Richie James has emerged as a player that Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes could look to in the last three games of the 2023 season.
While speaking to the media on Thursday, Patrick Mahomes expressed his belief that James can be a key component in Kansas City’s offense with increased opportunities.
“I think he’s [Richie James] done a great job with the opportunities that he has had,” Mahomes began. “You’ve seen he’s able to catch the ball, get vertical, break tackles, be in the right spot at the right time.”
Later in his comments, the 28-year-old quarterback elaborated on how James has earned his trust and the coaching staff’s confidence.
“I know [Head] Coach [Andy Reid] is talking about how we need to get [James] more involved,” Mahomes explained. “You see we’re trying to add him in as much as we can. I think the coaches are going to continue to do that because he offers a different skill set. He’s a veteran guy that knows where he needs to be at the right time.”
James played only two snaps against the Patriots, but with the receivers struggling to produce consistently, the 28-year-old wideout could be a player the Chiefs turn to in the hope of getting out of the mud offensively.