On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs will travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their second of three preseason contests. Fans of the team will likely see a familiar face on the field.
Last week, Kansas City signed veteran defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah. Ogbah previously played for the Chiefs in 2019 and delivered 5.5 sacks over 10 games. Unfortunately, a torn pectoral muscle ended his season early, even as the Chiefs went on to win Super Bowl LIV.
Speaking from the team’s training camp at Missouri
Western State University in St. Joseph on Monday, Ogbah appeared to have been waiting seven years for his return to red and gold. Even as he returned to the dorms at Missouri Western, he was happy to be back in Kansas City.
“It’s been a long time,” Ogbah remarked. “I always knew I was going to come back eventually; I just didn’t know when. But it feels good being back. I did not miss the dorms, but you know it feels good being back here.”
Even with more than a half-decade away from the Chiefs, Ogbah remains close to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
“I definitely kept in touch with Spags,” he recalled, “but at the same time, I just knew there was something for me still in Kansas City. When you have that in the back of your head, whenever there’s an opportunity, you try to come back. That was my goal, and I’m glad I was able to make it work.”
Ogbah is also thrilled to be back with the only defensive player remaining from his first Chiefs tenure: star defensive tackle Chris Jones.
“I know Chris,” the veteran declared. “I’ve been knowing Chris since draft prep. Big character guy, [I] love Chris. He’s a worker, an All-Pro; just being back with him brings a different energy.”
This time around, two rookies are carrying heavy expectations for the Chiefs’ front seven. Ogbah is high on what he has seen from defensive tackle Peter Woods and edge rusher R Mason Thomas in their short time together.
“Talented,” he observed of the pair. “I loved watching them out there in the game last week. It was good to see them get after the quarterback and play the run well. They’re young cats, but they’re definitely talented.”
Understanding that the team will want to develop the younger talent, Ogbah is ready for whatever his past and now current team chooses to do with him.
“Just whatever they need me to play,” he remarked. “Just attack whenever my name is called, and I’ll be ready to go.”
Many Chiefs fans — hoping for a higher profile signing at the position — were underwhelmed by Ogbah’s return to the team. Expect to see a motivated player added to the defensive end rotation.
“I can still play,” Ogbah declared. “Keep going and keep getting better. You learn every year. You try to push yourself as much as you can. I still have a lot of football left in me, so I just want to keep going out there and just keep balling.”
