The Chiefs will have a new No. 2 cornerback in 2019."

Two notable moves happened in the Kansas City Chiefs cornerback room in the matter of one week’s time. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed away unrestricted free agent Steve Nelson to a three-year deal worth $25.5 million Authentic Rashad Fenton Jersey , and the Chiefs signed Bashaud Breeland to a one-year deal with a maximum value of $5 million.Nelson’s Steelers cap hit will be $4 million in 2019, then bump up to $10.75 million in each of the next two seasons.In contrast, Breeland’s contract is a one-year, prove-it deal worth a no more than $5 million.Nelson’s departure from Kansas City opened up one of their starting cornerback positions, with the only capable options currently on the roster being second-year players Charvarius Ward and Tremon Smith. Bringing on Breeland, who is still looking to find his way back to that once-on-the-books three-year, $24 million contract, is a low-risk move that in 2019, could prove to give the Chiefs a better starting cornerback than they would have had in Nelson had they retained him.Football analytics website Pro Football Focus provided some numbers comparing the two cornerbacks on Monday.The first thing that jumps out upon looking at the numbers is sample size. Whereas Nelson was healthy all last year (16 starts), Breeland didn’t sign with the Packers until Week 4, and his lack of conditioning led to a hamstring injury that sidelined him until Week 9. A groin injury later in the season limited Breeland to just five starts and 330 snaps in 2018.Because of the stark difference in sample size, let’s focus only the numbers based upon averages. When doing that, Breeland and Nelson aren’t all that different.Breeland: 8.21 yards allowed per target | Nelson: 7.51 yards allowed per targetBreeland: 6.47 yards after the catch allowed per reception | Nelson: 2.84 yards after the catch allowed per receptionBreeland: 1 pass breakup per 11 targets | Nelson: 1 pass breakup per 11 targetsBreeland: 1 missed tackle per 5.5 attempts | Nelson: 1 missed tackle per 8.9 attemptsIt is worth noting that Breeland’s averages, which are indeed worse than Nelson Travis Kelce Jersey , came after an offseason in which Breeland participated in no OTAs, training camp or preseason games. It seems Breeland has learned from his mistake as that won’t be the case in 2019.The Packers featured Breeland in the slot more than any other year of his career, PFF also noted.Breeland’s best season was 2015, when he guarded the slot 80 times out of 921 snaps. His role should be similar in Kansas City, where the Chiefs already have their slot cornerback in Kendall Fuller.Tyrann Mathieu will also be around to help in that regard.The combination of a few things—Breeland having an offseason, likely no longer manning the slot and it being a full contract year—makes me think that there is a real chance Breeland could be a better starter than Nelson. If he isn’t, it sounds like the Chiefs won’t owe him much money at all, anyway. The one-year deal also gives Breeland a chance to prove it, and his money comes off the books in time to give the Chiefs room as they prepare for next offseason’s historic quarterback contract for Patrick Mahomes. The Kansas City Chiefs are missing their star running back, likely without his backup and could have their top two wide receivers hobbled or shelved for their crucial AFC West showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night.They still have Patrick Mahomes, though.And they’re still playing the Chargers.Article continues below ...Yes, the Chargers (10-3) are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, having won three straight and nine of 10 to close within a game of Kansas City (11-2) in the division race.But the Chargers also have had about as much luck against the Chiefs as the Redskins have had with quarterbacks this year, losing nine straight and many of them in lopsided fashion.That includes this season’s opener in Los Angeles [url=www.http://www.thechiefsclub.com/tyreek-hill-jersey/]Tyreek Hill Jersey[/url] , when Mahomes announced his arrival to the NFL with his first four touchdown passes in the Chiefs’ 38-28 victory at StubHub Center.“We’re familiar with this group, but they do so many things. It’s never easy going up against Kansas City,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said.“Go back to September. You can go back to last year, to 2017, when we lost to those guys twice — same things. They are just really good.”The Chiefs have continued to play at a high level despite some personnel challenges.Running back Kareem Hunt was released nearly two weeks ago because of off-the-field issues, and new starter Spencer Ware hurt his hamstring last Sunday against Baltimore.Wide receiver Sammy Watkins is likely to miss Thursday night’s game with a lingering foot problem, and speedster Tyreek Hill is nursing wrist and heel injuries, but has insisted all week that he’ll be ready.“One thing we have been talking about all season long, you never know when your number is going to be called, so it is important that you are ready,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said. “It’s all hands on deck. When it’s all said and done, we go out and play.”Besides, it’s not as if the Chargers haven’t had injury issues of their own.Running back Melvin Gordon is expected to be a game-time decision after spraining his right knee against Arizona and missing the past two games. His primary backup, Austin Ekeler Darwin Thompson Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys , is likely out after hurting his neck and sustaining a concussion in last week’s win over the Bengals.“I’ve been grinding hard to get back,” Gordon said. “I know Coach (Lynn) is trying to be careful and doesn’t want me to further hurt myself or things like that. So we’ll see where that goes.”If he’s unable to play, rookie Justin Jackson would get his first NFL start.“What is it, Week 15 in the NFL? These things happen,” Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said. “We’ll see who shows up Thursday and go from there.”As the Chiefs and Chargers prepare to meet, here are things to know:DIVISION RACEThe Chiefs can clinch their third straight AFC West title and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win. But even with a loss, the Chiefs would hold the tiebreaker over the Chargers by virtue of their better division record. Los Angeles needs a win to clinch its first postseason trip since the 2013 season.“Both teams are going to be all hyped up and ready to go,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who is 11-3 against the Chargers in his career.BERRY’S BACK, MAYBEThere have been signs this week that Chiefs safety Eric Berry will make his season debut against the Chargers. Berry sustained a season-ending injury in last year’s opener, then hurt his heel early in training camp.“It is killing him not to be out there,” Reid said, “but at the same time, you want to be smart with it. I know he would like to play in the game.”RIVERS RUNS THROUGH ITMahomes has been getting all the attention Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys 2019 , but Chargers counterpart Philip Rivers has been nearly as good this season. He already has 29 touchdown passes, five shy of his career best, and his interception rate is the lowest of his career.But Rivers also has struggled against the Chiefs, throwing 14 interceptions during the Chargers’ nine-game losing streak. “He’s a guy who can make all the throws,” Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller said.BENJAMIN’S DEBUTThe Chiefs hope wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who was cut by the Bills and signed with Kansas City last week, will be active for the game. Benjamin would provide a big body on the outside and some additional depth with Watkins likely to be out.SHORT WEEKBoth teams dismissed the challenges of playing on a short week, especially given how well they know each other. But the Chiefs also were at home Sunday, and the Chargers will be traveling across two time zones to Arrowhead Stadium, one of the toughest venues in the NFL.“We have a lot to prepare for,” Lynn said, “and like I said, it’s going to be more of a mental week. So we have to find ways to get that done.”