4 Chiefs Players With Most to Prove Saturday at Arizona

Carson Steele knows his best shot to make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster is his versatility. That’s why he focused on improving as a fullback this offseason.

“I kind of talked about it last year, being a Swiss Army knife,” Steele said Wednesday. “Kind of doing everything, but kind of taking that to the next step this year.”

He’ll take another step when the Chiefs open the preseason at Arizona on Saturday (7 p.m. CT, KSHB 41, 96.5 The Fan). Initially signed as an undrafted free agent, Steele made the final roster out of camp a year ago. He actually has a much tougher road this season.

Short-yardage maven Kareem Hunt wasn’t with the team last August. Neither was Brashard Smith, Kansas City’s seventh-round selection this past April, who made another impressive play at practice on Wednesday. Both players are significant threats to Steele in terms of roster math.

Other than his versatility and special-teams ability, Steele is also the biggest back in camp (6-0, 228). Here are three other players with plenty on the line prior to the final cutdown date, Aug. 26.

Jerry Tillery

A 6-6, 295-pound defensive tackle, Tillery signed a one-year, $1.79 million deal, with $1.17 million guaranteed. So, the Chiefs need to keep that in mind should when considering the 29-year-old veteran’s future.

Signed to provide experienced depth behind All-Pro Chris Jones, Tillery needs to hold off a pair of younger defensive tackles, Fabien Lovett and Marlon Tuipulotu. The Chargers’ first-round selection (28th overall) in the 2019 draft, Tillery stayed in the AFC West and spent one-and-a-half seasons with the Raiders. He joined the Chiefs from Minnesota, where he played all 17 games last year, with 11 starts and zero sacks.

Fabien Lovett

A 6-3, 316-pound defensive tackle from Florida State, Lovett played in the Seminoles’ defensive front with Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. Lovett signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2024, was waived in the final roster reduction and spent the year on the Kansas City practice squad.

He figures to get a lot of snaps in preseason and could beat out Tillery for a coveted role in the defensive-line rotation behind Jones and Mike Pennel.

Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Fabien Lovett (0) celebrates a stop. The Florida State Seminoles defeated the Duke Blue Devils 38-20 on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. | Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK

Chris Roland-Wallace

Like Steele and Lovett, Roland-Wallace signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent last year. He made the team out of camp and played 17 games as a versatile defensive back, including the Super Bowl rematch at San Francisco in Week 7. Roland-Wallace picked off Brock Purdy with Kansas City protecting a 14-12 lead in the third quarter, setting up a touchdown drive that all but put the game out of reach.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said Roland-Wallace can settle into a cornerback role now, potentially a slot corner, similar to Chamarri Conner’s role in the past.

“I think we had him at safety out of need last year,” Spagnuolo said Wednesday, “and found out he could do those things. And then, eventually, he evolved, becoming a nickel … He's made a lot of plays. We look for production in our guys.

“I’d like to see him against another team, obviously. So, look forward to see what he does against Arizona.”

Chris Roland-Wallace — Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace (30) against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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