ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KCTV) - There aren’t many people more excited for the Kansas City Chiefs’ first preseason game than Dave Toub.
The Chiefs’ special teams coordinator gets a chance to evaluate the roster and its best fits for the various roles needed on punt and kick coverages and returns.
“I’m 4 deep at a lot of positions,” Toub said Wednesday following the Chiefs’ final padded practice before Saturday’s preseason opener. “So you’ll see a lot of different bodies, especially in that third and fourth quarter.”
Toub said Wednesday one of the positions he has very few questions about -- at least for the starting role -- is kick returner and punt returner.
That role should be filled by the same player, wide receiver Nikko Remigio.
“I want to see everybody, but I don’t need to see a lot of Nikko,” Toub said. “If he gets one touch on punt and kick return, I’m good.”
Remigio has 39 punt returns and 50 kick returns over regular and postseason play across his first two seasons in the league. The confidence Toub expressed in the 26-year-old from California comes with higher expectations for his production when the regular season arrives.
“More touchdowns, that would be great,” Toub said of what he’d like to see from Remigio in 2026. “What he’s doing now, his vision has really improved. You see it in practice, he’ll see a crack in the middle and instead of trying to run all the way around it, he’ll plant a foot and get up field and get 15 or 20 extra yards.
“Those are the ones that sometimes pop. He’s catching the ball great. I’m just really pleased with where he’s at right now.”
As for Saturday’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams, once Remigio is out, Toub said he’d like to see second-year running back Brashard Smith get a punt return and “maybe even (rookie wide receiver Cyrus) Allen.”
“I still have to talk to coach (Reid) and see if he’s up to it -- with his leg,” Toub said. “But I’d like to see him get one in the return game.”
Toub also said he’s excited to see rookie wide receiver Jacob De Jesus.
“He’s a great catcher and he’s got a lot of hunger to him,” Toub said. “It’ll be exciting when he gets the ball in his hands.”
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