While it’s still relatively early in the 2025-26 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs have already watched some surprise contributors rise up the ranks. Cornerback Nohl Williams is one of those players, albeit not in Week 5’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Despite getting picked apart by the Jaguars’ offense on the road, Kansas City didn’t make an effort to involve their standout rookie. Should that be a cause for concern moving forward?
Chiefs Reveal Reasoning for Nohl Williams’ Low Snaps; Williams Responds
Not if you ask Williams. Speaking to the media on Friday, the third-round pick explained that he had a feeling what his workload would be. Heading into Monday Night Football, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo outlined what his plan of attack was.
“Just preparing through the week, being in meetings,” Williams said. “Just listening to Spags, what his game plan is, what the packages and all that [are] and also what they do. It depends on how he call it throughout the week — I pretty much know.”
Spagnuolo eased some of the external worries as well. Speaking to media on Thursday, he said Williams’ lack of high-end snaps wasn’t anything intentional.
“Just from more of the standpoint of what packages we had in,” Spagnuolo said. “There are certain packages where he’s in there and for whatever reason, we went with the other packages.”
Williams, the 85th overall pick back in April’s NFL Draft, went snap-less on defense in Week 1 but saw his reps increase from eight in Week 2 to 19 and 20 over the ensuing two contests. Unfortunately, he got all of four in Week 5’s loss to Jacksonville.
Targeted nine times in coverage, Williams has yielded just 3 receptions for 18 yards. His 42.4 passer rating allowed is tremendous, as is his league-leading 90.9 Pro Football Focus defense grade.
He’s likely earned an uptick in snaps, which the Chiefs acknowledged and followed through with last time.
Williams Open to Fulfilling Any Role for Kansas City in Rookie Season
Spagnuolo’s scheme is one of the most complicated in the sport, so first-year players who earn premium snaps are viewed highly. The UNLV and California product appears to be cut from that cloth, as evidenced by his early progression.
When asked about his comfort level in the defense, Williams struck a positive tone.
“I’m getting more comfortable each time I go out there,” Williams said. “I’m surrounded by good vets, good players. They communicate with me, I communicate with them. I’m for sure getting more comfortable with each snap.”
Despite not being on the field as much on defense in Week 5, Williams did see a spike in his special teams capacity. His 21 snaps there served as a career-high mark to this date, topping Week 1’s total of 20 by a single rep. Given Williams’ length and physicality, he’s an ideal fit in special teams coordinator Dave Toub’s group.
If he isn’t on the field defensively, he’s happy to find another role.
“Any opportunity I get to get on the field, I’m going 100% for my guys,” Williams said. “Coach Toub is a great coach, and he’s just taught me so much more about the game — especially special teams, how important it is. Flipping the field, just being physical, it provides juice to the offense and defense. Special teams, I take it very seriously.”
Sunday Night Football’s Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions could showcase whether Williams’ snaps get back on track.
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