Chiefs QB Jordan Ta’amu played as Lamar Jackson on scout team offense
The Kansas City Chiefs used a new player to simulate Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson on the scout team offense during practice this week.
Last season, the team used DB Alex Brown to simulate the dynamic Ravens QB. Brown was a wildcat QB in high school and a very good athlete coming into the NFL. Unfortunately, Brown tore his ACL during training camp and was out for the season. The year prior the team had used former draft pick Tremon Smith, who currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts.
With each of the previous two options unavailable, the Chiefs decided to use a new player, QB Jordan Ta’amu. Chiefs HC Andy Reid revealed that Ta’amu got the opportunity on Saturday. He also admitted that simulating Jackson in practice is a tough job for anyone.
“Yeah, he’s a hard one to simulate,” Reid told reporters on Saturday. “We had Jordan (Ta’amu) do it. He worked the quarterback spot this week. I mean Lamar (Jackson) is fast, good arm, see’s, understands their offense so well, you’re going to have a hard time finding somebody to just jump in, but Jordan did a nice job with it and gave our guys a look. Then, it’s important that you get out and you play. That’s what our guys are getting ready to do here in the next couple of days.”
A free-agent signing fresh off a stint in the XFL, Ta’amu was a natural fit to play the role of Jackson for Kansas City. In the XFL, Ta’amu was a dynamic player for the St. Louis BattleHawks in the same vein of Jackson with Baltimore. Ta’amu recorded the highest completion percentage in the league, completing 72% of his passes for 1,050 passing yards and five touchdowns. He also had the most rushing yards of any quarterback with 41 carries for 217 yards and a score.
Will this help the Chiefs contain a dynamic player like Jackson? As Reid said, Ta’amu gave them a look, now the team has to go out and play and stop the real thing.
