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The Kansas City Chiefs lost a key piece when first-round cornerback prospect Trent McDuffie went down with a hamstring injury during Week 1 of the 2022 season.
Luckily, seventh-round rookie Jaylen Watson has masked that injury very well through three starts but McDuffie’s eventual return will go a long way in providing depth and security at cornerback. Today on October 6, Chiefs Kingdom got some positive news on that front.
Trent McDuffie Could Return in Week 6
The Chiefs are set to face the division rival Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football in Week 5 but apparently, McDuffie could return as soon as Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills. FanSided NFL reporter Matt Verderame was the first on the story.
“I’m told the Chiefs believe there’s a real chance rookie CB Trent McDuffie returns Week 6 against the Bills,” he tweeted on October 6. “McDuffie has been recovering well from a hamstring injury and although he’ll need to put together a good week of work, it’s possible he plays next weekend.”
Verderame’s report received a boost later after head coach Andy Reid added that McDuffie is “doing great… I think he’ll get back in here maybe next week” (per team reporter Matt McMullen).
Against a high-powered offense like Buffalo, it’ll be good to have as much help in the secondary as possible, but let’s take a look at who might start at cornerback on the outside if everyone is healthy.
Rookies Could Push Rashad Fenton for Starting Role
After being named to The Athletic’s initial All-Rookie team for the first four weeks, ESPN writer Bill Barnwell listed Watson third on the defensive rookie of the year leaderboard — a total shock considering the competition.
“Stepping in as a starter when first-round pick Trent McDuffie went down with a hamstring injury in the opener, Watson might not be giving back the right cornerback job once McDuffie is ready to return,” Barnwell reasoned. “Watson, a seventh-round pick, was not supposed to be covering the opposing team’s top wide receiver, but because the Chiefs keep him one side of the field, he has gotten a disproportionate percentage of his targets against stars such as Mike Evans, Michael Pittman Jr. and Mike Williams.”
Continuing: “Watson has allowed two touchdowns in two weeks against a pair of standouts — Evans and Marquise Brown — but has made enough plays to more than make up for those scores. Watson has generated minus-8.9 expected points added (EPA) as the nearest defender in coverage so far, which ranks second among rookie cornerbacks. He has broken up four of the 28 targets in his direction, but his most notable play helped swing a game for the Chiefs, as he took a Justin Herbert pass 99 yards to the house for a pick-six.”
It’s an impressive track record that Barnwell lays out and if Watson can keep this stellar run of play going, it brings up an interesting predicament for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
McDuffie was just beginning to hit his stride before his injury and you don’t necessarily expect him to jump right back into the starting lineup in Week 6, but he could easily find his way back there soon after. Barnwell suggests that the rookies are in competition for the job opposite Rashad Fenton but there’s a case to be made that the veteran should be the odd man out.
L’Jarius Sneed is the dynamic slot playmaker and weapon, so that role is secured. Watson is performing at a very high level and is growing more and more. McDuffie’s development is paramount as a first-round selection.
Fenton, on the other hand, has allowed more yardage in coverage this year according to Pro Football Focus than any other Chiefs cornerback (197 — which is one yard greater than Sneed). Even worse, he’s given up that yardage off fewer targets than Sneed and Watson, who has been picked on because of his seventh-round status.
McDuffie was not targeted in 21 coverage snaps during Week 1. Watson has only allowed a 58.6% reception rate on 29 total targets (166 yards allowed).
When you look at Fenton’s numbers — 17 catches allowed for 197 yards off 20 targets — it becomes evident that the Chiefs should at least consider rolling with the youth. The only concern would come on outside run defense — an area Watson has struggled whereas the fourth-year pro has a PFF grade of 72.2.
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