Former Washington Huskies wide receiver Omari Evans is doing everything it takes to make himself available to the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff as he aims to stick with the NFL organization. Evans, a 6-foot, 195-pound pass catcher and former kick returner during his three seasons at Penn State, has made an impact in his primary position so far during training camp while also doing something he never did in his lone season at UW. The Killeen, Texas native was the last of eight total Chiefs' players who took snaps at kick returner during training camp last Friday, a sign that Evans is worthy of a true test when Kansas City hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday for the team's first preseason game. Although Evans didn't return a single punt or kick during the 2025 season, he did log three kick returns during his three years in Happy Valley, two of which came as a true freshman in 2022 and one in his final season at PSU in 2024, which totaled 48 yards, with a career-long of 17 in a 44-31 loss to Ohio State.
Brashard Smtih, Nikko Remigio, Emari Demercado, Emmett Johnson, Jacob De Jesus, Tyquan Thornton EJ Smith and Omari Evans getting kick return reps. — Farzin Vousoughian (@Farzin21) August 7, 2026 Ironically, his last kickoff return in a college game against Washington in 2024, a 35-6 defeat for Jedd Fisch and the Huskies two years ago. It was a 15-yard return on the Nittany Lions' third possession in the second half, which ended in a 1-yard touchdown run by Kaytron Allen to seal the 29-point loss for UW. Tuesday, Evans hauled in a pass during an 11-on-11 period in practice from rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, the latest of many plays the ex-UW and Penn State product has made, including a diving catch in the first week of camp. Evans has benefitted from two key injuries at wide receiver for the Chiefs during training camp, one to former first-round pick Xavier Worthy and the second to rookie fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen, the latter of which has returned to the field and staked his own claim to make the 53-man roster. Whether Evans ends up making the cutdown or finds himself on Kansas City's practice squad, which is now expanded to 16 players with one international player allowed, or not remains to be seen. If it doesn't, it won't be for a lack of availability or effort on the ex-Husky's part. This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington Football WR Gets Chance With Kansas City Chiefs