Will Chiefs TE Jody Fortson impress this week against Cardinals?
The last time the Kansas City Chiefs saw Jody Fortson in a regular-season game, he "Moss'd" Washington Commanders defender Landon Collins on his way to a 27-yard catch.
Later in that game, he went down with a non-contact injury, and Fortson missed the rest of the season.
Fortson came back this preseason and put up big numbers, catching two Patrick Mahomes touchdowns against that same Commanders team last month. Now, it looks like he'll be counted on as the Chiefs get ready for the 2022 NFL season.
Mahomes was asked in a news conference Wednesday what will be different about this year's Chiefs team. He said that there is going to be somebody different every week that has the big game.
One of those guys could be Fortson.
The 2019 undrafted free agent spent two seasons on the Chiefs practice squad before suiting up last year. He played in five games in 2021, recording five receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Fortson began his career with the Chiefs as a wide receiver, but standing at 6-foot-4, 226 pounds, he made the switch to tight end over a year ago.
It may pay dividends this season.
The Valdosta State graduate scored two of Mahomes' three passing scores in the preseason and continued to work with the No. 1 offense throughout.
Kansas City chose to keep four tight ends on its 53-man roster before it placed Blake Bell on injured reserve. Bell will miss at least the first four games of the year. Of course, the Chiefs will start Travis Kelce at tight end, while third-year pro Noah Gray rounds out the position. If teams focus on Kelce, JuJu Smith-Schuster and the plethora of receivers Kansas City has outside, Fortson can take advantage early on.
If it's going to be somebody different each week like Mahomes said, Fortson is a good bet to have "the big game." If nothing else, he can bring that athleticism he showcased when he went up and over Collins on that 27-yard grab, and help the Chiefs win football games.
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