When the Kansas City Chiefs decided to let starting cornerback Charvarious Ward walk in free agency last spring, the duties of being the team’s CB1 fell on third-year defensive back L’Jarius Sneed. Ward’s departure left uncertainty on if Sneed could handle defending some of the league’s best receivers, which was probably why Kansas City opted to draft Washington alum Trent McDuffie in the first round last April.
So far through four games, Sneed’s been decent in coverage. But as of late, he’s had a nose for putting a whack on the ball carrier and getting after the quarterback.
Sneed currently leads the Chiefs with three sacks and has four QB hits and six pressures so far this year. Kansas City’s CB1 also has made the second-most tackles with 32, which is only five short of linebacker Nick Bolton, who leads the team in that category.
Sneed registered a sack last Sunday night on Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Chris Jones late in the second quarter at the Buc’s 22-yard line. The takeaway would be turned into a Chiefs touchdown six plays later. The Louisiana Tech alum finished the night with nine tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a QB hit.
Thus far into his brief career, Sneed has accounted for 149 tackles (116 solo), nine QB hits, six sacks, three forced fumbles, and five interceptions.
As a team, the Chiefs currently are tied for sixth in the NFL with 11 total sacks.
