The Chiefs have made a significant adjustment in their secondary, replacing cornerback Nazeeh Johnson with Joshua Williams. Johnson, who had been repeatedly beaten by Jakobi Meyers during the close win over the Raiders, was benched, and it seems Kansas City will continue with Williams as their starting option moving forward.
Johnson’s struggles aren’t new. Since Jaylen Watson’s injury, the Chiefs’ defensive backs have frequently been targeted. Although Johnson showed signs of improvement in Week 12, he regressed badly in the Black Friday game. As a result, Johnson played just 13 defensive snaps, while Williams took on 53 snaps, signaling a clear shift in the Chiefs’ defensive approach.
After playing a high number of snaps in the previous weeks—90% in Week 10, 100% in Week 11, and 94% in Week 12—Johnson’s playing time dropped to just 19% in the Raiders game. Meanwhile, Williams, who had been relegated to the bench and hadn’t seen any defensive action in the past few weeks, ended up with the second-most snaps at cornerback.
This change was necessary, given Johnson’s difficulties against Meyers. For the Chiefs to secure a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance, they need to improve significantly in the secondary. Johnson has allowed a 101.2 passer rating when targeted in coverage, an unacceptable figure for a top-tier defense.
While there’s still time for Johnson to rebound and regain his form, it’s clear that he may not be suited for a starting role against elite offenses. The loss of L’Jarius Sneed was always going to result in growing pains, and Watson’s injury compounded the issue, putting Johnson in a position that wasn’t ideal for him.
With a crucial game against the Chargers on Sunday Night Football, it’s expected that Williams will start opposite Trent McDuffie, as the Chiefs look to strengthen their defense heading into the final stretch of the season.
