Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals "took most of his repetitions with the first-team offense" during the team's practice on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Nate Taylor. Taylor notes that Royals worked alongside Chiefs wideouts Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy, while Rashee Rice was "oftentimes" on the sideline. With Rice facing a suspension to begin the season, it appears as though Royals may be the leading candidate to earn playing time in his absence. Kansas City drafted Royals in the fourth round of the 2025 draft out of Utah State. He played in just seven games last year in college but still managed 55 catches for 834 yards and six touchdowns. The Chiefs also have veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Skyy Moore, who could step into a bigger role while Rice is sidelined. It's a good sign for Royals that he appears to be the preferred option early in camp.
Jul 24, 2025 2:10 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals appears to have a chance to be involved in the offense during the 2025-26 campaign sooner rather than later. "He can make an impact immediately," said Greg Castillo, Kansas City's western regional scout. "He can separate with the short route and he can separate with the intermediate route. He's got a ton of versatility. The 2025 No. 133 overall pick had a quality collegiate career, totaling 21 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Utah State. He also averaged 15.2 yards per catch during that span. The Chiefs have an experienced wide receiver group, consisting of Rashee Rice (knee), Marquise Brown, Xavier Worthy, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. In addition, tight end Travis Kelce will return for another season. But considering nagging injuries were a theme for the receiving corps last season, Royals is someone who may have a shot to contribute earlier than anticipated. Although his redraft stock isn't high, he's someone dynasty managers can consider later in rookie drafts.
May 17, 2025 1:19 PM EST
Fourth-round rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals officially signed his rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday, according to Charles Goldman of AtoZ Sports. The Utah State product was viewed by many as a potential Day 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he ultimately fell to the defending AFC Champions in Round 4. In 20 games over the last two seasons, Royals collected 126 receptions for 1,914 yards and 21 touchdowns. His landing spot with Patrick Mahomes is exciting, but he's not likely to make a significant fantasy football impact in Year 1 while sharing an offense with Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, and Marquise Brown. He's worth a late-round flyer in dynasty setups, but redraft expectations should be tempered.
May 14, 2025 4:04 PM EST
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