Things are relatively bleak for the Kansas City Chiefs despite having largely the same roster as last season during their Super Bowl run.
They still sit in their customary catbird seat atop the AFC West at 9-5. But they have lost three of their last five games and four of the last seven since enjoying a six-game winning streak from Week 2 through 7. Along the way, they have been plagued by numerous missed opportunities, many of which have been the fault of an unproven wide receiver room.
That group lost second-year man Skyy Moore to injured reserve, prompting a late-season roster move.
“#Chiefs are signing wide receiver Anthony Miller and tight end Izaiah Gathings, per a league source,” Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 posted on X on December 20.
Former Bears Draft Pick Signs Contract With Chiefs
Anthony Miller Added to Chiefs’ Roster
Miller, 29, was originally a second-round pick (No. 51 overall) by the Chicago Bears in 2018. He spent three seasons in Chicago before the Bears traded him to the Houston Texans in 2021. The Texans would waive Miller less than three months after acquiring him.
Wide-open touchdown for Anthony Miller pic.twitter.com/j9lM646D4P
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) September 24, 2021
The beleaguered wideout signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers to finish the campaign.
He has not played since, begging the question of how much he can offer. Miller had just six receptions for 25 yards in all of 2021, though he did score a touchdown.
Miller has 140 receptions for 1,589 yards and 12 touchdowns on 227 targets in his career. If he could have stayed healthy, perhaps Miller could have stuck with the Steelers. But he went on injured reserve and missed the rest of the 2022 season.
He has since bounced around on a couple of teams, first with the San Francisco 49ers, then with the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad this preseason.
Gathings is an undrafted free agent who played wide receiver at Middle Tennessee State. He spent time with the New York Jets in training camp.
Willie Gay Defends Skyy Moore
Moore did not take off as hoped this season. The former second-round pick (No. 54 overall) in 2022 has 21 receptions for 244 yards and one score this season.
He has had some promising moments.
Most notably, Moore had 70 yards and his lone score of the season on three receptions versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Perhaps in a sign of things to come, though, he accomplished that on a scant three targets.
He had two grabs for 42 yards on a season-high six targets the following week.
Still, teammate Willie Gay was sure to defend Moore from an onslaught of fans celebrating the young pass catcher’s season-ending injury.
#Chiefs LB Willie Gay sticking up for Skyy Moore on IG against fans, saying they're happy he's hurt! #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/sgZP9lkaTJ
— Starcade Media (@StarcadeMediaKC) December 19, 2023
Several of the Chiefs veterans have come to the defense of their young receivers this season.
Until the group shows some level of consistency from week to week, or even play to play, the ridicule will likely continue.
Rashee Rice Rising to the Top
Second-round rookie Rashee Rice (No. 55 overall) is quickly establishing himself as the cream of the crop among this group of Chiefs wideouts, a position the organization leaned on All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes to elevate coming into the season.
That hasn’t happened, primarily with 2022 trade deadline acquisition Kadarius Toney. But Rice has been a most pleasant surprise.
.@RiceRashee11 made some clutch plays AND broke a franchise record this weekend 🍚 pic.twitter.com/a7ni0mAQEu
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 19, 2023
Rice set the franchise record for receiving touchdowns by a rookie this season.
He has seven scores and 754 yards in 68 receptions on 84 targets this season. His role has only increased as the season has gone on, a trend that should continue into next season at this rate.
