Chiefs coach Andy Reid is looking internally for players to step up after losing key offensive weapons during free agency. With wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman leaving Kansas City to sign with the Patriots and Jets, respectively, Reid honed in on the individual he’s counting on to step up in their stead.
The 65-year-old indicated that he is expecting a big leap from second-year wide receiver Skyy Moore, suggesting he’s confident in the Chiefs’ current group of receivers and their ability to make plays alongside star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“We are expecting Skyy Moore to step up,” Reid said, via NFL.com. “We'll just see how everything else works. We got the same guys coming back that we had, and we like that group with the exception of JuJu. Mecole was banged up a little bit... We’ll work out the thing without JuJu. Somebody will have to step up and take that spot.”
The Chiefs drafted Moore in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but the 22-year-old struggled to get acclimated in his rookie season. Moore caught just 22 passes for 250 yards and was held without a touchdown for the season.
Heading into the 2023 campaign, Kansas City’s top receiving weapons will consist of Travis Kelce, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney, leaving an opportunity for Moore to make an impact. The Western Michigan product boasts plenty of potential, and now with less competition at his position on the roster, Reid is expecting the young receiver to rise to the challenge and help fill the void left behind by Smith-Schuster and Hardman.
