Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Darius Harris always hoped he would get his shot. A career backup, Harris still prepared like he would be a starter someday.
That opportunity came three weeks ago when Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay was suspended four games. In Gay’s absence, Harris has filled in nicely and now he’s brimming with confidence.
“It was just time for me to actually showcase it to others,” Harris said Wednesday as the team began preparation for Sunday’s game against the Bills. “So far everything’s been good. I’m feeling confident. The guys around me have been giving me that confidence boost, and we’ve just been making plays all together. And with the guys around me, it just makes it easier for me.”
Monday night against the Raiders, Harris had 10 tackles and a sack. And in his first start against the Colts, Harris had 13 tackles. Chiefs coach Andy Reid wasn’t at all surprised. If anything, he expected the undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State to play well once he got an opportunity.
“Great kid, first of all,” Reid said. “He’s smart and a very hard worker. Even when he’s on the scout team part of it, he gives you 110% on the scout team — a phenomenal look. And so, you just kind of figure that he gets in there, he’s going to do fine.
“And he’s been able to digest the defense and stay on top of that. So everybody around him has confidence that he jumps in and here we go. We don’t feel like you’re losing or taking steps backwards.”
The 6-foot-2, 238-pound Harris, who has the versatility to play the Mike, Will or Sam linebacker positions, said facing Bills quarterback Josh Allen presents a unique challenge but staying disciplined is key to stopping Allen and the Bills offense.
“We just have to be defined in our assignment, and the pass rush lanes,” Harris said. “Making sure that everybody’s on point and everybody’s where they’re supposed to be and try to bottle him in because if we’re undisciplined he can break it out of the gate and hurt us.”
The last time the Chiefs and Bills met was last year in the AFC divisional round in the playoffs. The Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime as Patrick Mahomes took the Chiefs down the field in just 13 seconds and Harrison Butker kicked a game-tying field goal to force overtime.
While the game was one of the most thrilling in Chiefs history, Harris said the Bills will use it as motivation. But so will the Chiefs.
“That was a big win for us,” Harris said. “We got the win and that’s what we wanted. But I know those guys are thinking about that, and they’re coming for revenge. They’re a good team, they’re hot.
“They’ve got good players on both sides of the ball. So this year, come this weekend we just got to make sure we’re on top of it and try to get the same result as last year.”
McDUFFIE, BUTKER BACK AT PRACTICE
Cornerback Trent McDuffie and Butker both practiced Wednesday. McDuffie, one of the team’s two first-round picks this year, has been out since injuring his hamstring in Week 1 against Arizona.
“He’s been rehabbing, and we’ll just see how he does,” Reid said of McDuffie. “He’s been going full speed with his rehab. And we’ll see how he does working back in.”
Butker also has been out since Week 1 with a sprained left ankle.
