The numbers that matter most do not look good for the Kansas City Chiefs. [Zero wins. Two losses](https://arrowheadaddict.com/dont-be-surprised-if-kc-chiefs-turn-this-season-around-fast-01k56qk9jd9x). A two-game deficit in the AFC West.
But we're interested in a deeper look at other numbers, ones that can reflect changes behind the scenes or how a roster plan might develop over time. We're referring to snap counts, which tell us how a player's playing time is trending or how the Chiefs chose to positionally emphasize their game plan [against the Philadelphia Eagles](https://arrowheadaddict.com/4-winners-and-4-losers-from-chiefs-gut-wrenching-super-bowl-rematch-loss-01k552sdntcg).
What can we learn from the Chiefs' snap counts in Week 2? Let's glimpse at a few takeaways.
1\. The WR picture is about to radically change
-----------------------------------------------
At some point in the near future, the snap counts at wide receiver will look ridiculous in the rearview mirror. At least, that's the hope.
JuJu Smith-Schuster played 70 percent of snaps. Tyquan Thornton did, too. Hollywood Brown was the other wideout to eclipse that number, and together as a trio, that feels like the same collectively depressive ceiling as the Chiefs had in 2023 and 2024. In other words, this feels all too familiar.
Xavier Worthy is back next week. Jalen Royals should be back around the same date or shortly thereafter. At that point, Rashee Rice will follow one month later. Even with just one of those guys back, the picture looks a lot rosier. Together, Mahomes might find the same levels of dynamism that have been missing since Tyreek Hill was traded.
Asking Patrick Mahomese to go to war in his prime years with these playmakers—alongside an aging Travis Kelce and a moribund backfield—is an egregious mistake, but that's another point for another day. The good news is that things are changing soon.
2\. Jaden Hicks' interesting totals
-----------------------------------
Jaden Hicks looked ready to step into a starting role in the Chiefs' secondary after a solid rookie campaign in which Steve Spagnuolo clearly trusted him more and more over time. With the departure of Justin Reid in free agency, and no subsequent move to bring in a new starter, it made sense that Hicks was the proverbial next man up.
So why is Hicks playing 47 percent of snaps in Week 2? Hicks never played less than half the snaps in a game since Week 14, including the playoffs—a streak of 7 games. Without Reid, however, Hicks remains on the sidelines far more often than expected as Chamarri Conner and Bryan Cook each play 100 percent.
3\. Rookies play more (and that's a good thing)
-----------------------------------------------
In the wake of Mike Danna's early-game hip injury, defensive end Ashton Gillotte played nearly half the game. Rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott had some impressive moments while getting 16 reps (27 percent). Rookie corner Nohl Williams looked good in a smaller sample size of 8 snaps. But the positive returns from all three are a very good thing for the Chiefs' fortunes.
Over time, the Chiefs will be a better team if all three rookie defenders can log more playing time as the weeks go on. That will mean a higher ceiling at multiple levels of a defense, which will help compensate for key offseason losses.