Chiefs Coach Details Key To 'Tempering Expectations' For Exciting Rookie Brashard Smith

The life of a rookie in the NFL, at least early on, is to make enough good plays to get noticed by your coaching staff, and Kansas City Chiefs rookie Brashard Smith has done that.

But the grind of training camp usually sees rookies have a dip in production, and depending on what position you play, that can be detrimental to your chances of making the team.

As for Smith, he has been a solid contributor, but for offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, it is also important to remind Smith and even other players that this is a journey they are on right now.

"It's key that we make him understand that," Nagy said. "I can imagine a young guy like him coming into this offense, it can be a lot. So you got to temper their expectations and not allow them to get frustrated, whoever it is.

"If it's Brashard [Smith], you make a mistake, that's ok, don't make it twice, and then when you get a chance to get on the football field, like he did last week, he made some good plays. But can you follow that up and continue that is the key."

Tempering expectations can be hard when for some, their job is on the line, but in Smith's case, we get the sense Andy Reid and Nagy have a role for him in 2025.

But he has to show he's worthy of getting enough snaps to do that role, which is why the preseason games have been so important, with the coaching staff getting ample vision to evaluate.

In the two preseason outings, Smith has posted 32 rushing yards from seven carries and two receptions for 16 yards on his limited snap count. Now, with the third game around the corner, it's his last chance to put some good things on film.

Consistency is what Nagy wants, and Smith is hoping he can prove he's the guy the Chiefs can count on.