The Kansas City Chiefs are 2–0 without getting a single regular-season snap from Chamarri Conner.
Now one of Steve Spagnuolo’s most versatile defenders is finally moving closer to the field.
Conner returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant while recovering from the knee problem that kept him out of Kansas City’s first two games. Andy Reid said the Chiefs plan to ease him back into the mix rather than rush the process.
That is encouraging news by itself.
What makes it more interesting is what Conner could eventually add to a secondary that has already been playing reasonably well without him.
Conner Is More Than Just Another Safety
Calling Conner a safety does not completely describe his value.
He has played throughout the secondary during his career, including responsibilities closer to the line of scrimmage and in coverage.
That versatility has always made him a natural fit for Spagnuolo.
The Chiefs drafted Conner in the fourth round in 2023 after he demonstrated the ability at Virginia Tech to play slot corner, deep safety and box safety.
That sounds like a Steve Spagnuolo player before he ever enters the building.
Spagnuolo loves defenders who make it difficult for quarterbacks to identify what Kansas City is doing before the snap.
Conner helps create that uncertainty.
A quarterback sees him near the line of scrimmage.
Is he blitzing?
Dropping into coverage?
Covering the slot?
Rotating deep after the snap?
The more positions one defender can credibly play, the more disguises become available.
His 2025 Season Showed His Value
Conner started all 17 games for Kansas City last season and finished with 117 combined tackles according to the Chiefs’ official statistics. He also recorded two sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles.
Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt noted that Conner led Kansas City’s defensive backs in tackles during the 2025 season.
Those numbers tell part of the story.
Availability tells another.
Conner was a full-time piece of the defense a year ago.
Kansas City entered this season expecting him to remain an important part of a secondary that underwent significant change.
Instead, knee swelling kept him off the field throughout the first two weeks.
Jaden Hicks and the rest of the secondary have handled the situation well.
That does not mean Kansas City would prefer to continue playing without Conner.
The Timing Could Be Excellent
Conner’s return to practice comes as Mansoor Delane also appears closer to returning to a normal role.
Delane was a full participant Wednesday after dressing but not playing against Indianapolis. Reid indicated he currently expects the rookie cornerback to be able to play against Miami, although Kansas City will continue monitoring him.
I have already written about Delane’s shoulder recovery, so the bigger story here is not another medical update on the rookie.
It is what Kansas City’s secondary might look like when the pieces begin returning together.
L’Jarius Sneed.
Mansoor Delane.
Alohi Gilman.
Jaden Hicks.
Chamarri Conner.
And several other young defensive backs who have already gained valuable snaps because injuries forced them onto the field.
Suddenly Spagnuolo may have choices instead of replacements.
That is a big difference.
Depth Can Become Flexibility
Injuries are usually discussed only as losses.
Sometimes there is a second effect.
Someone else gets experience.
Kansas City has already had to play without Conner.
It lost Delane after only three defensive snaps in the opener.
Other players had to respond.
Now imagine those replacements returning to reserve or rotational roles after proving they can survive meaningful NFL snaps.
The roster becomes deeper than it was before the injuries.
That is how early-season adversity can occasionally become useful later.
Nobody wants players hurt.
But when the starters return, the experience accumulated by the backups does not disappear.
Spagnuolo gets more tools.
My Take
Chamarri Conner returning to practice probably will not generate the attention that a Patrick Mahomes injury update would.
I think it matters quite a bit.
The Chiefs defense is built around confusion.
Steve Spagnuolo wants quarterbacks looking at one thing before the snap and seeing something else afterward.
Players like Conner make that possible.
He can move.
He can tackle.
He can blitz.
He can line up in multiple places.
Most importantly, the offense cannot always identify his responsibility from his alignment.
That is valuable football.
Kansas City has already started 2–0 without him.
Now the Chiefs may begin adding pieces instead of subtracting them.
Mansoor Delane is practicing fully.
Conner is finally practicing again.
The younger defensive backs have gained experience.
If Kansas City can get everybody healthy at the same time, Spagnuolo may soon have a problem coaches love having:
Too many capable defensive backs and a lot of different ways to use them.
I’m interested to see what that looks like.
Because the Chiefs defense has already shown flashes without its complete secondary.
Giving Spagnuolo another chess piece usually makes life considerably less comfortable for the quarterback on the other side.
Sources
Kansas City Chiefs — Week 3 injury report, September 23
Kansas City Chiefs — Chamarri Conner player profile and career statistics
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