Chiefs’ starters hardly played Sunday. So who saw the most on-field time vs. Saints?
The playing-time distribution in the Chiefs’ preseason opener didn’t exactly break down like coach Andy Reid suggested it would, with each quarterback getting a quarter.
Each of the Chiefs’ top three-quarterbacks — Patrick Mahomes, Blaine Gabbert and Shane Buechele — had played by halftime. Mahomes played one series. The starting offensive line was out there for the first two. The starting defense also got two series.
Leading the way in snap counts on offense was tackle Wanya Morris. The 2023 third-round pick from Oklahoma was in for 46 offensive plays, or 72% of the snaps. Next was tight end Matt Bushman with 36 snaps.
Linebacker Cole Christiansen, who was with the Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squads in 2022, topped the KC defense with 38 snaps.
First-round draft pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah was third with 35 snaps. His former Kansas State teammate, cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe, got 33.
Here are the snap counts and playing percentages for those who played for the Chiefs in the preseason opener:
Offensive snaps/special teams
Player, position, off. snaps, pct., special teams snaps, pct.
W Morris T 46 72% 2 6%
M Bushman TE 36 56% 12 39%
M Caliendo G 35 55% 4 13%
D Kinnard T 35 55% 2 6%
P Wanogho T 29 45%
Buechele QB 28 44%
R Rice WR 25 39% 4 13%
A Reiter C 25 39% 4 13%
J Ross WR 23 36% 8 26%
I Smith-Marsette WR 23 36% 6 19%
K Crawford WR 20 31% 5 16%
J Carvin G 20 31% 4 13%
S Gutierrez T 20 31% 4 13%
J Ealy RB 20 31% 3 10%
A Hardy T 20 31% 2 6%
C Godrick T 20 31% 2 6%
C Oladokun QB 20 31%
L Perine RB 19 30% 10 32%
K Blanton TE 18 28% 11 35%
N Remigio WR 18 28% 7 23%
D Prince RB 17 27% 9 29%
C Powell WR 16 25% 7 23%
L Niang T 15 23%
T Fryfogle WR 14 22% 3 10%
N Gray TE 12 19% 4 13%
T Scott WR 10 16% 1 3%
N Allegretti G 10 16%
B Gabbert QB 10 16%
C Humphrey C 9 14%
D Smith T 9 14%
J Taylor T 9 14%
J Thuney G 9 14%
T Smith G 9 14%
B Bell TE 7 11% 7 23%
R James WR 7 11% 3 10%
M Valdes-Scantling WR 7 11%
S Moore WR 6 9%
P Mahomes QB 6 9%
C Edwards-Helaire RB 6 9%
J Watson WR 5 8% 4 13%
T Kelce TE 5 8%
J McKinnon RB 3 5% 6 19%
I Gathings WR 3 5% 4 13%
Defensive snaps/special teams
Player, position, def. snaps, pct., special teams snaps, pct.
C Christiansen LB 38 51% 9 29%
C Williams DT 35 47%
F Anudike-Uzomah DE 34 46% 7 23%
E Boye-Doe CB 33 45% 7 23%
C Conner FS 33 45% 6 19%
K Hailassie CB 33 45% 6 19%
M Edwards FS 32 43% 9 29%
J Cochrane LB 31 42% 8 26%
M Herring DE 31 42% 2 6%
C Jones LB 28 38% 10 32%
D Bush SS 28 38% 7 23%
D Tranquill LB 27 36% 3 10%
A Cook FS 25 34% 7 23%
B Thompson DE 23 31% 7 23%
J Kaindoh DE 22 30% 7 23%
D Bootle CB 21 28% 10 32%
D Shelton NT 21 28% 2 6%
D Wise DE 19 26%
T Jones DE 18 24% 7 23%
I Norman SS 18 24% 5 16%
K Coburn NT 18 24% 2 6%
L Jackson CB 17 23% 4 13%
J Watson CB 16 22% 5 16%
B Cook SS 16 22% 4 13%
G Karlaftis DE 16 22% 2 6%
J Reid SS 16 22% 2 6%
N Bolton LB 16 22% 2 6%
C Omenihu DE 16 22%
T McDuffie CB 16 22%
M Dickerson DT 15 20% 2 6%
P Hoskins DT 14 19% 2 6%
D Nnadi DT 14 19% 2 6%
W Gay LB 14 19%
R Taylor CB 13 18% 6 19%
L Chenal LB 13 18% 6 19%
N Jones CB 12 16% 8 26%
A Witherstone CB 12 16% 3 10%
J Williams CB 10 14% 6 19%
T Townsend P 9 29%
H Butker K 9 29%
J Winchester LS 9 29%
