A 23-Year-Old Chiefs Rookie Who Barely Saw the Field in 2025 Could See a Lot More of It in 2026
A major concern for Chiefs fans heading into the 2026 NFL season has been the wide receiver room, a concern that has met with frustration since Kansas City opted not to select a receiver high in the draft. With lingering doubts about Rashee Rice’s availability due to persistent legal troubles and injury, and Xavier Worthy’s progression, fans have been uneasy with what Patrick Mahomes has to work with. With the exception of Tyquan Thornton and 36-year-old Travis Kelce, Chiefs Kingdom has been on edge, concerned with the reliability of the receiving corps of a team aiming to resume its dynastic aspirations. However, receiver performances during mini-camp have shed some favorable light on Kansas City’s pass catchers, one in particular is a second-year player, Jalen Royals.
The absence of Rice due to his incarceration has allowed Royals to run his reps at mandatory mini-camp, and the Utah State alum has made the most of his opportunity. The practice standout got the attention of Mahomes after making a full extension catch for a redzone touchdown during an 11-on-11 scrimmage. The three-time Super Bowl MVP shouted out Royals’ number in appreciation of the good play. That’s a great sign for a receiver, an atta boy from the heart of the franchise and the face of the league. Along with that play, he consistently won against coverage and pulled down contested catches, including one for another touchdown. Sidelined for most of the 2025 season with knee tendonitis, Royals had just two receptions for four yards. His lack of presence on the field last year can also be attributed to Andy Reid’s notoriously complex playbook and the high bar he sets for rookies on the field. With the top three receiver positions pretty much assured to be Rice, Worthy, and Thornton, the fourth spot could be there for the taking for the up-and-coming playmaker if he continues to perform at a high level during training camp, which opens in July.
The receiver Royals is competing against for that fourth spot is 2026 fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen, who is also impressing on the field. An advantage the second-year player has is that he’s not a rookie, which gives him an edge over Allen since Reid is extremely cautious of putting rookies on the field in regular-season games. For many Chiefs fans, there is doubt Royals will have any significant playing time during the upcoming season. There are factors at play, however, that may boost the odds in his favor. One of them is Rice’s availability; his knee injury could be nagging, and his life off the field can be described as unpredictable, to put it mildly. With this reality, it behooves Kansas City to keep a receiver room with depth. Another factor is the receiver coach, Chad O’Shea. The three-time Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots is a force multiplier for the receiving corps, who gets the most out of his players. It is this change in coaching from the 2025 season that gives Royals the best chance of significant playing time this year. He’s already beginning to prove the doubters wrong, and if he can stay locked in and healthy, he’ll receive more accolades from Mahomes on game days.
