History says Kristian Fulton might will still make his mark with Chiefs

It's Week 5, and Kristian Fulton is still injured. As far as his chapter with the Kansas City Chiefs is concerned, that's the only narrative worth writing about so far.

On Thursday, the Chiefs returned to practice to prepare for a Week 5 showing against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football. The good news is that every player was able to participate in practice, but Fulton was the only one with limitations.

That Fulton has been sidelined since he arrived in Kansas City, as it relates to being on the field at least, is going to be a turnoff for some Chiefs fans. It makes sense, too. Fulton missed nearly all of training camp on the Physically Unable to Play list, and four games into a new season, he's played 17 total snaps on defense.

In the time Fulton has spent watching on the sidelines, rookie Nohl Williams has ascended the depth chart and earned rave reviews for his physical play that looks NFL-ready even as he still adjusts to the leap in competition. When you put all of this together, it'd be natural for some fans to dismiss Fulton when thinking of the bigger picture.

But this brings up something that's important to keep in mind regarding Fulton: the Chiefs brought in the free-agent cornerback for good reasons—to the tune of a two-year, $20 million deal. That's not "taking a flyer" or "adding some depth". That's a solid paycheck intended for a good player expected to bolster the secondary.

All of that can still be true.

While Fulton remains limited, and it's possible he misses a fifth consecutive game to start his Chiefs' tenure, let's take a look at the career numbers for Fulton.

Kristian Fulton's career snap percentages

Two things prove true, at least in the numbers, for Fulton. First, he is injury-prone. There's no way around it. Hamstring issues. Knee injuries. Groin concern. Now, a problematic ankle for the Chiefs. Fulton is no ironman, but the Chiefs knew this when they signed him back in March.

The other point, however, is that Fulton always seems to miss a handful of games before coming back to be a volume defender. Despite missing a few games each year for Tennessee, Fulton still re-entered the lineup and played nearly every snap on the boundary. Last year, Fulton was healthier than ever for the Chargers and locked down nearly 80 percent of snaps in the secondary.

That's what makes it impossible to write Fulton off. The Chiefs aren't likely do so, and neither should fans. While Fulton remains limited at the present time, when healthy, he's likely going to reorient the depth chart—in a good way. With Fulton returning, they'll have multiple players who can assume a startling role, which gives Steve Spagnuolo more versatility and security than ever.

A team with the sort of enviable depth that the Chiefs have in the secondary is a very good problem to have in a long season with deep postseason expectations. Expect Fulton to be a big part of things once he can return to the field, a hopeful turn in the narrative for all.

Allen Robinson Sends Warning to Spencer Rattler After Subtle Jab at Giants Defense

Not everyone was happy with New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler taking a subtle shot at the New York Giants’ defense.

Among those critical of his comments was former Pro Bowl wide receiver Allen Robinson II. He sent a warning to younger stars in the league. “Young players, say less, less is more!”

Robinson spent a decade in the league, making one Pro Bowl during his career. He was a second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Penn State.

His second year in the league was his breakout. Robinson had 1,400 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He was the co-leader in the NFL in receiving touchdowns that year.

After two more seasons with the Jaguars, Robinson signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency. He later signed with the Los Angeles Rams before being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023. The following year, he signed with the New York Giants before being released. Robinson then signed with the Detroit Lions, appearing in 12 games for them.

Did Saints QB Spencer Rattler take a shot at the Giants’ defense?

 

During a recent press conference, Rattler discussed the Giants’ defense, which he will face in Week 5. He claimed they don’t use as many disguises with their looks as other teams.

On the surface, Rattler seemed genuine. However, some speculated that he took a passive aggressive shot at his Week 5 opponent with the comments.

“[They have a] really good front. Probably one of the best in the league,” Rattler praised. “We’ve gotta have a good plan for them — a lot of speed, a lot of power.

“On the back end, they don’t do as much as what we’ve seen from these other teams, disguise-wise, but they’ve got their wrinkles and everything. They run what they do well, and can cause some havoc to quarterbacks and offenses, so we’ve got to get the ball out on time, take our shots when they’re there, and just move the chains,” he continued.

Fans will have to wait and see how Rattler does against the Giants’ defense. The Giants are coming off their first win of the year against the Los Angeles Chargers. The defense held Justin Herbert to 203 passing yards and intercepted him twice.

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