Kansas City Chiefs OTA’s are officially underway, and anyone following the team is closely monitoring the wide receivers. After losing Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman in free agency, somebody needs to step up and fill the void in this passing attack. Head coach Andy Reid is confident that the talent he needs is already on the roster, as he expressed confidence in multiple pass-catchers during his latest press conference.
Andy Reid Is Confident in the Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receivers
Andy Reid’s Interview
During his latest press conference, reporters asked Andy Reid about wide receiver John Ross, and the two-time Super Bowl champion head coach used this opportunity to discuss the wide receiver room at large.
“I like both of the Ross’, big (Justyn) and little (John),” Reid said. “So, the big one is coming along. He feels good, his foot feels good. The surgery that he had worked out well up to this point. He’s made some nice plays for us out here. I know Pat’s (Mahomes) got trust in him, so that’s good to see. And the smaller Ross is extremely fast and quick…I like what I see there, too.”
That’s obviously some high praise, especially for Justyn Ross. It’s easy for a coach to talk up a player when specifically asked about him, but the reporter did not ask about Justyn Ross at all – that was unprompted.
Justyn Ross 🤐 pic.twitter.com/USaZ9a8jOQ
— Clemson Highlights (@ClemsonRT) May 1, 2022
For what it’s worth, the two Ross’ were not the only receivers to receive praise. Later on, a reporter asked Reid about Skyy Moore’s progress, and the head coach gave a similar update on the Chiefs wide receiver.
“I like what I see,” Reid said. “He’s getting strong and you can tell that he’s worked this offseason. He was down there with Pat (Mahomes) the whole time and never missed a day with him, so he’s done a good job. (He has a) better understanding.”
Does This Mean Anything For the Chiefs Wide Receivers?
Generally speaking, you never want to put too much stock into individual press conferences. After all, this is the offseason, a noted time for unjustified optimism. Every single player is in the best shape of their life and ready for a breakout season.
Perhaps Skyy Moore is ready for a Year 2 leap. The most important takeaway from Reid’s press conference is that he said the game is starting to slow down for the Western Michigan product. You could tell Moore was overthinking things last year, so if he has a better grasp of the mental side of the game, then perhaps he can earn a larger role this year.
Skyy Moore's punt return in the AFC Championship Game isn't being talked about enough! When called on he delivered and the result was the Super Bowl! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/U7TxzHYrv6
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) March 17, 2023
Justyn Ross, meanwhile, continues to stand out. John Ross and Skyy Moore both earned their respective praise because a reporter specifically asked about them, but nobody asked about Justyn Ross. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen important members of the organization gush over the former undrafted free agent, and previous articles have discussed he Justyn Ross could be special. If he can shake the injury bug (and that is a BIG “if”), he could start opposite Kadarius Toney.
John Ross, meanwhile, is still fighting an uphill battle to make the team. Despite the kind words from the head coach, there is plenty of film available to show that the speedy wide receiver isn’t anything more than a depth player. Perhaps he takes over the Mecole Hardman role, but the Chiefs shouldn’t expect too much from the veteran wide receiver.
Main Photo: Danny Medley – USA Today Sports
