The Kansas City Chiefs fell 16-15 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, dropping to 0-2 in the preseason. Despite extending an eight-game preseason losing streak, Kansas City’s rookies flashed notable speed and athleticism across both sides of the ball.
Preseason Loss and Defensive Highlights Against the Buccaneers
The Kansas City Chiefs dropped to 0-2 in the preseason following a 16-15 defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. While the final score extended a preseason losing skid, the team’s defensive unit delivered a strong performance through the first three quarters. Opponents have largely been kept out of the end zone during exhibition play, anchored by standout performances from defensive rookies.
Kansas City built a 9-0 halftime lead behind three field goals from Harrison Butker, including a 69-yarder, before Tampa Bay rallied in the second half. Rookie running back Emmett Johnson scored the Chiefs’ only touchdown of the game, which also marked the lone offensive touchdown for the team across the preseason.
Mahomes stated that he attempted to play in the contest against Tampa Bay, though the decision ultimately rested elsewhere. He also indicated that he feels extremely confident
he will start against the defending AFC West champions in Week 1, barring any unforeseen setbacks.
Jalen Royals and the Offensive Roster Battle
Second-year receiver Jalen Royals put together his best professional outing following a slow start in training camp. Selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Royals led the team with six receptions for 51 yards, demonstrating elusiveness in the open field.
Reid added further praise regarding the young receiver’s after-catch production, noting, And then the yards after the catch, I thought, were nice.
He did a nice job there.
Expectations for Royals entering the campaign had remained measured following a quiet rookie season in 2025 where he caught two passes for 4 yards. Securing his role as a reliable option would ease concerns regarding positional depth.
Defensive Standouts: Mansoor Delane, R Mason Thomas, and Jaden Hicks
The initial wave of the defensive draft class continued to display high-end athleticism and speed at the line of scrimmage. First-round rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane made an immediate impact after missing the preseason opener while recovering from a shoulder injury. Delane diagnosed a Buccaneers screen pass on the second drive, disrupting receiver David Sills V and forcing him inside for a 1-yard loss. Pro Football Focus data noted that Delane allowed only one reception across 11 snaps.
Second-round edge rusher R Mason Thomas also disrupted plays on critical downs for the second consecutive week, contributing two quarterback pressures and jumping into the lane on another screen play to knock down a pass. Meanwhile, third-year safety Jaden Hicks built on a strong summer by securing a strip-sack of quarterback Jake Browning in the second quarter. Next Gen Stats tracked the sack at 2.31 seconds, marking the second-fastest time-to-sack among all NFL players during the preseason week.
Offensive Line Adjustments and Kahlil Benson’s Development
Undrafted rookie right tackle Kahlil Benson experienced a difficult night that highlighted the steep learning curve of professional football. After earning a roster spot following a tryout at rookie minicamp and battling veteran Jaylon Moore for the starting role, Benson struggled against Tampa Bay pass rushers. He was beaten on pass sets by Rueben Bain Jr. and Anthony Nelson, allowing a pressure and a strip-sack on third-down plays, alongside a false start penalty.
Moore also experienced difficulties in pass protection while playing out of position. Despite these challenges on the line, Reid expressed measured confidence in the unit’s trajectory.
Reid concluded regarding the trench depth, I’m OK with the O-line. We’ve got to keep working, but we’ll be all right there.
