Here’s the change JuJu Smith-Schuster is most excited about with the Kansas City Chiefs

JuJu Smith-Schuster gained separation from cornerback Trent McDuffie. Then, after breaking out, he fully extended near the sideline for a diving catch from quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

This was during 11-on-11s Wednesday, and the moment provided more than just the day’s top highlight on the Chiefs’ first full-squad practice of training camp.

It also foreshadowed what could be ahead for Smith-Schuster in Kansas City.

The 25-year-old Smith-Schuster, who signed a one-year free-agent deal with the Chiefs in March, said in a team-released video earlier this offseason that he was looking forward to a new opportunity in KC for many reasons.

One of those was usage.

“I think the past couple years I’ve been in Pittsburgh ... I haven’t been running the routes that I want to,” Smith-Schuster said then.

Specifically, Smith-Schuster’s route tree appeared to be mostly limited to patterns where he’d proven himself successful. Think go- and out-routes, mixed in with slants, crossers and comebacks where his physicality and size often benefit him most.

That made Wednesday’s standout play, then, all the more interesting.

Smith-Schuster — starting as the outside receiver — appeared to make the diving catch while executing a corner route.

In other words, an outcome that might not have been available last season when he was with Pittsburgh.

“This offense ... oh my gosh. The amount of routes that I ran, I think I ran more routes here (today) than at my previous offense — and being all over the field,” Smith-Schuster said Wednesday. “And like I said, being able to play inside, outside, and that’s just for everybody.”

This is all part of coach Andy Reid’s scheme, which Smith-Schuster pointed out to reporters Wednesday. The Chiefs require their receivers to learn each wideout position, giving the offense versatility and allowing players to move around to different locations before the snap. The hope is to make it more difficult on defenses that might attempt to scheme a particular player out of a game.

For his part, Reid said he liked the early chemistry he’d seen between Smith-Schuster and Mahomes. Part of that cohesion likely developed from offseason training, as Smith-Schuster was a frequent visitor to Texas when Mahomes held his own throwing sessions outside of team drills.

That also became more critical after Smith-Schuster dealt with a minor injury that limited him during OTAs.

“He’s back now. He’s healthy. It was good work today,” Reid said. “Just keep building on it.”

Smith-Schuster played in five games a year ago, catching 15 passes for 129 yards before dislocating his shoulder in Week 5; the injury required season-ending surgery.

Part of the motivation this year, Smith-Schuster said Wednesday, would be to put that setback behind him.

“Coming to this team, I’m gonna just let my play write the story — me making plays on the field, doing what I’m told,” Smith-Schuster said. “I came here to win, and this is a team that wins.”

It also appears to be an organization that could provide Smith-Schuster with more possibilities than he had previously.

And if Wednesday was any indication, both sides might have a chance to benefit from that.

“Today was just like the first taste,” Smith-Schuster said, “of what I’ve got to show.”

This story was originally published July 27, 2022 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Here’s the change JuJu Smith-Schuster is most excited about with the Kansas City Chiefs."

Jesse Newell

The Kansas City Star

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Jesse Newell covered the Chiefs for The Star until August 2025. He won an EPPY for best sports blog and previously was named top beat writer in his circulation by AP’s Sports Editors. His interest in sports analytics comes from his math teacher father, who handed out rulers to Trick-or-Treaters each year.