A year ago, the Kansas City Chiefs entered the season counting on young receivers Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney to improve. Neither took significant strides, leaving rookie Rashee Rice to shoulder most of the load for the receiver room.
This offseason, the Chiefs upgraded the corps by inking veteran Hollywood Brown and drafting speedster Xavier Worthy in the first round. The moves mean K.C. is counting less on Moore entering the season.
The former Western Michigan Bronco didn't have an explanation for what went wrong in 2023.
"Honestly, I feel like it just, like you said, just didn't happen," Moore said Sunday, via Sports Illustrated. "I came up here, put the work in, did what I had to do and sometimes it just doesn't go the way you planned it to. Get right back on the horse and keep riding."
In 14 games, Moore earned 244 yards on 21 catches with one touchdown. The figures were well below an expected second-year leap for the wideout, who ran 262 routes -- 0.9 yards per route run.
Moore missed the end of the regular season and the Chiefs' postseason run due to a knee injury that he said nagged him "way before" he went on injured reserve. He's back healthy, gearing up for 2024.
The 23-year-old is focusing on what he can control entering Year 3.
"Just another year," Moore said. "Coming into my third season, I feel prepared. I know everything, I know what to expect and everything. So I feel like I'm just coming to work."
With the additions to the WR corps, the Chiefs are banking on Moore making a big leap in Year 3. Instead, he's battling for reps and a roster spot during camp.
"I'm just coming in every day [as] the same person," Moore said. "Just putting the work in. I believe that once you put the work in, the rest is not up to me. I just want to focus on what I can control and just keep getting better."
Moore entering the year as WR5 or WR6 underscores the improvements Kansas City made this offseason.
