These Chiefs defenders are playing for their jobs against Seahawks

With their second preseason tilt scheduled for Friday night in Seattle, the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to give plenty of playing time to those players on the roster with something to prove. Competitions are still being judged, which means opportunity is there for the taking.

The goal for every player: making the Chiefs' 53-man roster to start the season.

Not all is won or lost in a preseason game like this. Such judgment calls are stacked atop observations made throughout the offseason, development from the previous year, roster needs, and the like. However, a few players can really help or hurt their causes against the Seahawks, depenidng on how they fare on the field.

There are a lot of places to look, but specifically we wanted to take a look at the defensive side and highlight four players who currently sit on the fence—or maybe even the outside looking in. Some players are obvious locks; others are destined for the practice squad, at best. But these players could make a real case to still be included—if they're able to impress Chiefs coaches.

Fabien Lovett

The former Florida State defensive tackle found a way onto the Chiefs practice squad following a successful preseason run with the team in 2024. A rookie free agent signing, Lovett not only bucked the odds to find his way onto a Super Bowl contending roster but earned a futures deal to return in 2025.

That said, the losses at defensive tackle—Turk Wharton and Derrick Nnadi—were evened out by offseason additions—Jerry Tillery, Omarr Norman-Lott—so Lovett faces the same numbers as he did before.

An impressive performance against the Seahawks could keep Marlon Tuipulotu and Coziah Izzard at bay, making a clear path to the active roster—if the Chiefs want to keep a fifth interior player.

Cole Christiansen

Cole Christiansen is a heartening story as a former rookie free agent out of Army who has been with the Chiefs for the last three seasons. After two seasons with the Chargers to start his career, Christiansen was let go before the 2022 season and K.C. has made him a steady presence on special teams ever since.

Christiansen has long made his living as a dependable special teamer to promote in a pinch from the practice squad, and that could well be his outlook again in 2025—in what would be his fourth season in Kansas City.

That said, the Chiefs have considerable depth this season at linebacker. Cam Jones, Jack Cochrane, and Jeffrey Bassa feel like locks behind Drue Tranquill, Nick Bolton, and Leo Chenal. But Cooper McDonald and Brandon George have had their moments as the newest undrafted players vying for opportunities.

Christiansen could be feeling the squeeze, and that makes his reps against the Seahawks worth watching.

Joshua Williams

After three seasons with the team as a spot starter on the boundary on both sides of the secondary, Williams is trending in a rather puzzling direction coming into a contract season. Instead of using this season as an exhibition to make more money, he's been passed on the depth chart by rookie Nohl Williams and new signing Kristian Fulton.

Despite making six starts last year and playing in 60 games over the last three seasons (including playoffs), Williams is looking like a potential trade candidate or even worse. Kevin Knowles has turned up the heat as an intriguing rookie free agent from Florida State, so there's competition from all sides for Williams.

However, before anyone assumes Williams is already out the door, the Chiefs have to admit that injury concerns for the unit have already crept in during the preseason. Williams knows the players, the system, and the demands, and he's proven to be very durable in his first three NFL seasons. A strong preseason showing (and/or a poor showing by others) could be enough to tip the scales in his favor.