Credit: Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
Monday night felt like a trip back in time for the Kansas City Chiefs as they leaned on two former stars to beat the New Orleans Saints 26-13 at Arrowhead Stadium. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back Kareem Hunt, both of whom had major roles in past seasons, played big parts in the win.
“It’s pretty cool getting the guys back,” Smith-Schuster said. “I’d say it’s like the band is back together.”
Smith-Schuster Steps Up
Smith-Schuster stepped up to fill in for injured wide receiver Rashee Rice, catching seven passes for 130 yards. Hunt rushed for 102 yards and scored his first touchdown for the Chiefs since being released by the team six years ago.
“It’s a credit to not only the guys and how hard they work, but coach [Andy] Reid and just knowing their skill sets and how to put them in great positions,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “Kareem just runs extremely hard. He gets every yard out there, catches the ball, does whatever it takes in order to go out there and win.
“[Smith-Schuster] fits in well in this offense and so he did a great job today. It was cool to get those guys going.”
Chiefs Reunite with Familiar Faces for a Crucial Win
Both Smith-Schuster and Hunt have strong ties to the Chiefs. Smith-Schuster was their top receiver in 2022, helping them win the Super Bowl. Hunt led the NFL in rushing as a rookie in 2017 but was released in 2018 after a video surfaced of him involved in an altercation.
Neither player was with the Chiefs earlier this year. Smith-Schuster was in training camp with the New England Patriots, and Hunt was working out with his high school coach, hoping for a team to call. The Chiefs eventually brought them back, needing Smith-Schuster for depth after Hollywood Brown’s injury.
Before Monday night, Smith-Schuster had only two catches in four games, but with Rice out, his role grew. “I was OK with [a lesser role],” Smith-Schuster said. “It was OK just being the leader in the room. I was OK with just being the ‘rah’ guy.
“But I think that when the opportunity presents itself, I wanted to step up. I love the adversity. I love being down, I love the doubts. I’ve always bet on myself. I came here on a one year deal betting on myself [in 2022] and it worked out for me. So coming back here was kind of like a no-brainer.”
Mahomes compared Smith-Schuster’s understanding of the offense to Travis Kelce. “Trav is kind of one of a kind, but [Smith-Schuster] has a good feel for the entire concept of the play and so he knows how to get into the open spots,” Mahomes said. “He did a good job today of beating man when they played man and finding windows [in zone] to get big catches.”
Hunt’s Touchdown Return
Hunt, who had spent the last few seasons with the Cleveland Browns, said he always hoped for a second chance with the Chiefs. After scoring a 5-yard touchdown in the game, he made a heart shape with his hands to show his love for Kansas City.
“It was a great feeling to get back in the end zone,” he said. “I missed it very much.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
