Surprise Camp Standout Andrew Armstrong Excited for First Game With Chiefs

Judging by sheer numbers, the Kansas City Chiefs have boatloads of depth in the wide receiver room. The quality of that depth, however, has been questioned at every turn dating back to free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft.

Injuries and a lack of high-end overall contributions from the group have left the door wide open for someone to make a name for themselves at this summer's training camp. Multiple pieces have managed to do so, including second-year man Andrew Armstrong.

With KC's first preseason game of the year on the horizon, the former Arkansas standout believes he's settling into a groove. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, he commented on whether he's built some trust with quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields.

"I mean yeah, I hope so," Armstrong said with a laugh. "I've been out there just doing the best I can be, being the best I can be. Just, like I said, learning. Going into the playbook, and I think that's one of the main goals: being trustworthy for the quarterback. I feel like I'm trying to build that with them."

Head coach Andy Reid echoed that sentiment after a recent camp practice, complimenting the 25-year-old for boasting plus traits in multiple aspects of the receiving game.

“Yeah, I like what Armstrong's doing," Reid said. "Big kid, strong. Looks like the quarterback trusts him, both of them. Top two guys, they trust him on his route running. He's got good speed for a big kid, and good transition. He's not stiff coming out of breaks, and that's important."

In two years with the Razorbacks, Armstrong hauled in 134 passes for 1,904 yards and six touchdowns. After not getting picked in last year's NFL Draft, he latched on with the Miami Dolphins and briefly spent some time with the Detroit Lions later on. Kansas City swept him up on a reserve/futures deal in January, paving the way for him to join a franchise he's long respected.

Armstrong has family in Missouri, which makes the current run he's on even sweeter. It was a no-brainer to sign with the Chiefs and have a chance to compete.

"My family's here," Armstrong said. "This has been my favorite team since I was a little kid. I'm not even worried about the city life and things like that. I'm here to play football and be around the team. Just the seriousness of it all, I really want to be around a serious environment, and this is an extremely serious environment. I love that."

Standing just under 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 202 pounds during the pre-draft process, Armstrong posted one of the best Relative Athletic Scores in his class. He's a truly impressive vertical athlete, but as Reid mentioned, there's a bit more to his game than that. He's surprised the team with a nice blend of fluidity, smarts and timing at the Missouri Western State University campus, thus making him a player to watch this weekend and beyond.

There's no denying that Armstrong has his work cut out for him to make the 53-man roster at the end of the month. Still, he feels right at home and could be a prime practice squad candidate at the very least. Now, he's looking to maximize the opportunity to put on a Chiefs uniform and show what he's made of in front of the home crowd on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.

"It's going to feel great," Armstrong said. "Just looking and seeing all the red. It's different playing it on a game than being in real life. I know it's going to feel amazing."

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