The Kansas City Chiefs played their first game of the 2024 preseason on Saturday, struggling to compete with the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 26-13 loss.
The Chiefs’ starters played less than a full quarter, giving second and third-string players a chance to earn their spot on the team’s 53-man roster before the regular season begins. With two more preseason games left, players must continue performing at their best to earn a place on Andy Reid’s roster.
On Monday, PFF listed their five highest-graded Chiefs from Saturday’s loss, with fourth-year defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton posting a career-high 88.7 grade.
Highest-graded Chiefs in the preseason opener:
🥇 Tershawn Wharton – 88.7
🥈 Justyn Ross – 81.8
🥉 Chris Oladokun – 80.8
🏅 Miles Battle – 73.4
🏅 Matt Dickerson – 73.0(min. 10 snaps) pic.twitter.com/ErMbLHjaIc
— PFF KC Chiefs (@PFF_Chiefs) August 12, 2024
Though good performances in preseason don’t always translate to the regular season, fans should watch for Wharton and rising wide receiver Justyn Ross, who posted the second-highest grade among Chiefs on Saturday, as they fight for a spot on the roster.
The team heads back to Kansas City this week to play the Detroit Lions in Week 2 of the preseason. Expect to see more breakout performances from the team’s second and third-string players.