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Chiefs OC Matt Nagy Discussed 2 Players That Have Been Underutilized Potentially Getting More Involved

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Searching for answers after an 0–2 start and uneven offensive showings, the Kansas City Chiefs are weighing tweaks that could put two underused skill players on the field more often. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said Thursday that tight end Robert Tonyan and running back Brashard Smith are candidates for expanded roles as the staff experiments with personnel packages to jump-start production.

Both are really good players … I like both of those guys,” Nagy said, noting that each already has situational packages and emphasizing a “next-man-up” mindset. He called Tonyan a trusted veteran who has stepped in seamlessly in the tight end room, while adding that Smith is still learning but “on a good pace” and “really growing.”

The push comes amid a sluggish run game and inconsistent pass catching that have forced Patrick Mahomes to shoulder a superstar workload. Despite a standout preseason—eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown—Tonyan has logged just 13 offensive snaps through two regular-season games and has not been targeted. Smith, who flashed speed in camp and mixed in with the first team, finished the preseason with 33 rushing yards on nine carries and has only one carry for two yards (and no receptions on one target) so far.

One logical lever is role redistribution behind Travis Kelce. No. 2 tight end Noah Gray has just two catches for four yards, opening the door for Tonyan to absorb a bigger route share in 12 personnel, play-action, and leak concepts. For Smith, the staff could manufacture touches via jet motion, screens, and perimeter runs to add pace and lighten boxes for the ground game.

The urgency is clear: backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are averaging a combined 3.4 yards per carry, limiting down-and-distance leverage and red-zone efficiency. Even modest gains from Tonyan and Smith could diversify the middle-of-the-field attack, stabilize early downs, and reduce the necessity for Mahomes to create off-script.

Nagy stopped short of promising snap counts, but his message was unmistakable: the Chiefs intend to test fresh combinations—and two underutilized pieces may be first in line.

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Eagles Head Coach Announces A.J. Brown To Start On The Bench For Standout Rookie After Poor Performance vs. Broncos
  Philadelphia, PA — the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach confirmed that A.J. Brown will start on the bench in Week 6 against the New York Giants, with the boundary starting spot going to rookie WR Taylor Morin—an undrafted signing out of Wake Forest who flashed through rookie camp and the preseason. The decision follows an underwhelming offensive showing against the Denver Broncos, where several snaps highlighted the unit being out of sync between Brown and Jalen Hurts. On a midfield option route, Hurts read Cover-2 and waited for an inside break into the soft spot, while Brown maintained a vertical stem and widened to the boundary to stretch the corner. The ball fell into empty space and the drive stalled. On a separate red-zone snap, a pre-snap hot-route signal wasn’t locked identically by the pair, resulting in a hurried throw that was broken up. The staff treated it as a reminder about route-depth precision, timing, and pre-snap communication—the micro-details that underpin the Eagles’ offense when January football arrives. Starting Morin is part of a plan to re-establish rhythm: the early script is expected to emphasize horizontal spacing, short choice/option concepts, and over routes off play-action to probe the Giants’ responses. Morin—who has shown strong hands in tight windows and clean timing in the preseason—should give the call sheet a steadier platform, while Brown will be “activated” in high-leverage downs such as 3rd-and-medium, two-minute, and red zone to maximize his body control, early separation, and the coverage gravity that can force New York to roll coverage. Facing the tough call, Brown kept his response brief but competitive:“I can’t accept letting a kid take my spot, but I respect his decision. Let’s see what we’re saying after the game. I’ll practice and wait for my chance. When the ball is in the air, everyone will know who I am.” Operationally, the staff is expected to streamline the call sheet between Hurts and Brown: standardize option-route depths, clearly flag hot signals, and increase game-speed reps in 7-on-7 and team periods so both are “seeing it the same and triggering the same.” Handing the start to Morin also resets the locker-room standard: every role is earned by tape and daily detail—even for a star of Brown’s caliber. If Brown converts the message into cleaner stems and precise landmarks—catching the ball at the spot and on time—the Eagles anticipate early returns: fewer dead drives, better red-zone execution when back-shoulder throws and choice routes are run “in the same language,” and an offense that regains tempo before taking on Big Blue. With Taylor Morin in the opening script, Philadelphia hopes the fresh piece is enough to jump-start the attack from the first series.