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Chiefs Patrick Mahomes Affirms His Trust in Rookie After Preseason Debut Despite Loss to Cardinals

Glendale, AZ — The scoreboard didn’t flatter Kansas City in its preseason opener, but the film offered something the locker room can actually use: a rookie linebacker who looked like he belonged. Jeffrey Bassa, a fifth-round pick out of Oregon, flashed the kind of play speed and poise that translate beyond August — enough for Patrick Mahomes to tip his cap after the game. 

Mahomes : “Losing one preseason game doesn’t tell the story; what matters to me are the positive signs from our rookies tonight. With what Jeffrey Bassa showed — play speed, discipline, and the way he closed to finish plays — I believe he’ll grow quickly and become an important piece for the Chiefs.”

The takeaway that matters

Kansas City fell to Arizona, but Bassa kept showing up on the broadcast: sorting traffic, triggering downhill, and finishing plays in space. Multiple outlets noted he was active and around the ball throughout, with his closing burst popping late in the game. On the stat sheet, he led the team with six tackles, validation for what the eyes suggested. 

This wasn’t empty-calorie production, either. Bassa’s best snaps featured quick key-read steps, clean angles, and controlled strikes that stopped extra yardage. Those are the habits coordinator Steve Spagnuolo can trust on Sundays — and the ones that usually earn sub-package work before the leaves turn. (If you’re looking to relive it, the team’s highlight reel captured plenty of the rookies’ night, even in a losing effort.) 

Why Bassa fits what the Chiefs need

Kansas City’s defense asks its second-level players to wear a lot of hats: play fast against the run without overrunning gaps, match routes in underneath zones, and close screens before they breathe. Bassa’s college tape promised range and urgency; his first pro outing delivered a similar profile — not perfect, but purposeful and repeatable. That’s how rookies carve a lane on this roster: stack reliable, low-error snaps and let the responsibilities grow. 

The rookie class context

The Chiefs’ youth movement was on display all night — from new faces in the secondary to fresh legs at wide receiver and the offensive line — and Bassa’s energy fit right in with that wave. If he keeps stacking days like this, he becomes more than a preseason storyline; he becomes an answer when injuries, game plans, or matchups force Spagnuolo to reach deeper into the depth chart. 

What comes next

Preseason is a three-week audition. For Bassa, the assignment is clear: repeat the eye discipline, keep the angles clean on perimeter runs, and show he can carry routes when the call asks him to. Do those things, and the August tape will age well into September roles.

Kansas City didn’t get the result in Glendale, but in a month built for evaluation, the Chiefs got what they came for — confirmation that a fifth-rounder with a Ducks pedigree can play fast, play smart, and play himself into the plans.

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Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side