7 winners and 4 losers from the Chiefs’ first preseason game

It was a pretty typical preseason opener. We didn’t see many starters; some rookies stood out, and other veterans are still trying to find their places on the roster. The score didn’t matter much, but it was still quite rewarding to see the 2026 Kansas City Chiefs take the field for the first time against another NFL team.

Early returns on the rookie class were largely positive, but there were some depth concerns exposed on both sides of the ball. We won’t remember much about this game, but some of these guys certainly left impressions that could have significant implications on the initial roster.

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Here are a few who stood out as the Los Angeles Rams beat the Chiefs 20-12 on Saturday afternoon.

7 Winners

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier: When the team drafts a quarterback late in the seventh round, there are no real expectations for success. But through one performance, they might be ratcheting up for Nussmeier. Working under pressure much of the time, the LSU kid looked poised and creative. He used his quick release and surprising throw-on-the-run ability to make plays against the Rams.

Wide receiver Cyrus Allen: It wasn’t the most efficient debut for rookie Cyrus Allen, as he hauled in just two of his five targets. But the hype train gained some significant steam when he climbed the ladder to convert on 3rd and 8. It’s the type of play we’ve been wanting to see from Chiefs receivers for a long time — aggressive, strong hands, attacking the football.

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Running back Emmett Johnson: Arguably the player of the game for Kansas City was the rookie from Nebraska. Emmett Johnson ran with balance, strength, and vision, leading all rushers with 59 yards on the ground. The new No. 10 also caught all three of his targets, getting involved in the screen game. He has been impressive throughout the offseason program — but if he keeps performing like this in games, Emmett is going to force his way onto the field and up the depth chart before the regular season even starts

Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong: Sure, he had that 17-yard catch on his only target of the afternoon. But his blocking stood out most. A wide receiver like Armstrong, who is lower on the depth chart, has to make his mark on special teams and as a blocker. The Chiefs could use a big-bodied receiver that can serve up pancakes in the running game and screen game; Armstrong is 6 feet 4 inches tall and 210 pounds. He might have taken a big step towards winning a job on Saturday.

Safety Jaden Hicks: If Emmett Johnson was the offensive player of the game, Jaden Hicks was absolutely the big winner on the defensive side of the ball. This guy was everywhere against the Rams: seven tackles, one for a loss, and a pass defended. After a very promising rookie season, he didn’t seem to earn the trust of his coaches last year. But in the preseason opener, Hicks was a man on a mission.

Kicker Harrison Butker: I probably wasn’t alone in my concern and criticism around the league’s highest-paid kicker as he missed more kicks than any other kicker who retained his job in 2025. Against the Rams, Butker was a perfect 4/4, including a 59-yard line drive that had room to spare.

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EDGE R Mason Thomas: When you think about defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s pass rush, it’s not likely that you’re picturing an explosive, bendy edge rusher. In his recent Chiefs tenure, it’s been all about creative corner blitzes and sturdy defensive ends. But this kid might be breaking the mold. Thomas displayed rare quickness in getting to Los Angeles’ quarterbacks — but was also active enough against the run to show he belongs. It was a very promising debut for Thomas.

4 Losers

Note: Applying the labels “losers” is not intended to be a judgment on the talent or character of any of these players. It’s just a simple way to grade their performance in a single game. No disrespect should be inferred.

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Running back Emari Demercado: Why would the presumptive No. 2 running back not get into this game until late? Why could he then manage only nine yards on three carries and not get targeted in the passing game? If the first preseason game is indicative of the running back depth chart, No. 10 might be the new number two.

Defensive lineman Peter Woods: Other than Cyrus Allen, Peter Woods might be the biggest standout performer in training camp. Unlike Allen, we didn’t see the same flashes from Woods in the first preseason game. It was a quiet night for the 2026 first-round pick— a decent pass-rush snap and a bad run-defense snap. It’s not really cause for concern; it just would have been fun to see more from Woods.

Tight end Mason Pline: The tight end position is a tough one to evaluate for this Chiefs team. There’s the literal G.O.A.T. and a handful of other guys. Pline didn’t get targeted in the passing game, but he did whiff badly in pass protection, leading to a sack deep in Chiefs territory. We’d like to see a guy emerge from this group, even if it’s just as a blocker. Based on this limited sample, Pline hasn’t yet made his case.

The backup offensive linemen: In addition to the three sacks taken by rookie Garrett Nussmeier, there were five false start penalties that derailed multiple drives after the first team exited. Holding penalties cost the Emmett Johnson his first taste of the end zone. Caliendo, Driskell, and Nourzad combined for seven of the twelve flags thrown against the Chiefs on the day. Depth might still be an issue for this offensive line unit.