Welcome to Arrowhead Pride’s weekly snap-count analysis!
Let’s take a closer look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ playing time in the 30-27 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. The starting lineups are courtesy of NFL Game Stats and Information, and the snap-count data comes from Pro Football Focus’ premium stats.
Starters (offensive): LT Kahlil Benson, LG Mike Caliendo, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jaylon Moore, QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Tyquan Thornton, WR Rashee Rice, WR Xavier Worthy, RB Kenneth
Walker and TE Travis Kelce
Starters (defensive): DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Khyiris Tonga, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, LB Nick Bolton, LB Drue Tranquill, LB Jack Cochrane, CB Mansoor Delane, CB L’Jarius Sneed, S Alohi Gilman and S Chamarri Conner
Did not play: LG Kingsley Suamataia, QB Justin Fields
Inactive: TE Jared Wiley, QB Garrett Nussmeier (Emergency third QB), DB Jadon Canady, DE Jack Pyburn, OT Diego Pounds, LT Josh Simmons (Back)
The big takeaway: Jalen Royals, not Cyrus Allen, steps up
With the injuries of two starting receivers, second-year wide receiver Jalen Royals stepped up and played the second-most snaps of his career (38), only behind the season finale last season in Las Vegas (43).
Royals didn’t record a catch over two targets (and 22 pass plays), but he was the next man up over rookie wideout Cyrus Allen, who only played five snaps. Allen saw one target, but it came on a drawn-out play that felt was closer to a desperation heave from quarterback Patrick Mahomes than an in-rhythm play.
Without Rashee Rice, Royals’ ability to gain yards after catch with physical running will continue to be utilized, but it will be worth monitoring how Royals and Allen’s role change with the absence of Tyquan Thornton now factored in.
The Offensive takeaway: Emmett Johnson is the pass-down back
Rookie running back Emmett Johnson played the second-most snaps (17) of his career and the most pass-play snaps (12) of the season. Johnson did not receive a handoff over his time on the field, but did catch a screen pass that gained 10 yards at one point.
In the shadows of lead back Ken Walker’s 177 yards on the ground, Johnson is settling more into a pass-down role and is hogging the playing time from second-year back Brashard Smith, who only played two snaps on offense in Las Vegas. Smith has only played six snaps on offense this season.
The Defensive takeaway: Chamarri Conner returns as primary starter
In his season debut, safety Chamarri Conner played 75% of the team’s defensive snaps and played the same amount of snaps as starting slot defender L’Jarius Sneed (63). He was one of the two starting safeties, along with Alohi Gilman, taking over the role of third-year safety Jaden Hicks, who only played 29 snaps in Week 4.
However, Hicks (13) nearly played the same amount of run-defense snaps as Conner (18), which shows that the Chiefs’ defense still values Hicks’ skills in certain situations. In previous seasons, Conner has been an every-down starter.
Safety Christian Roland-Wallace (29 snaps) also saw a good amount of playing time, speaking to the team’s reliance on Dime personnel (six defensive backs in formation) against the Raiders. Before Week 4, Roland-Wallace’s season-high snap-count total was 12.
Offensive Snaps
Defensive Snaps
Special teams snaps
