This Chiefs breakout player has created 2 turnovers. One advanced metric loves him

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn “Turk” Wharton was paying attention — even on a play that was whistled dead because of a penalty.

This was late in the first half of KC’s road win against Atlanta on Sunday, and though the Falcons were whistled for a false start, Wharton noticed something about right guard Chris Lindstrom.

Specifically, Lindstrom — he recently signed a $103 million extension with the team — had gone super-aggressive with his pass-blocking set while trying to get his hands on Wharton immediately.

“I knew he wasn’t gonna do it again. I knew he was gonna sit back,” Wharton said. “I just went and got him.”

Wharton made good on that read two plays later. He attacked the backpedaling Lindstrom, using a power move to get upfield before hitting the arm of quarterback Kirk Cousins.

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Cousins’ pass fluttered in the air before being intercepted by Chiefs cornerback Chamarri Conner, setting up a KC field goal at the end of the half.

It was only the continuation of a strong start for Wharton, who also teamed with defensive lineman Mike Danna for a game-changing forced fumble of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow the previous week.

“Wreaking havoc back there, so he’s definitely one of those guys that we love,” Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie said of Wharton. “He’s great in the locker room, has a lot of fun, but I’m excited for his journey and what he’s about to put on this year.”

Some early numbers couldn’t be more encouraging.

For example, respected line-play analyst Brandon Thorn, based on his film study, has created a “Pressure Quality Ratio” measure that looks at who has the highest percentage of “high-quality” pass-rushing wins among NFL defenders.

The leader through three weeks? That would be Wharton, whose company in the top five includes star players like teammate Chris Jones, Cleveland’s Myles Garrett and Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson.

Thorn broke his analysis down further, saying Wharton has had two “rare quality” high-level pressures against top offensive linemen to go with five “high quality” pressures.

So what’s contributed to Wharton’s increased production in his fifth season with the Chiefs?

One thing, he says, is health.

The 26-year-old tore an ACL (knee ligament) during the 2022 season, then spent most of last year “just battling some things” while experiencing “some discomfort in there.”

That’s changed this year, as Wharton said he spent his offseason further strengthening his knee and leg.

“I feel great. I go out there and really don’t even think about it,” Wharton said. “Everybody always says the year after (coming back from injury) that it’s gonna feel good. I kind of see what they mean now.”

Some Chiefs personnel appeared to see this breakout coming.

That includes defensive line coach Joe Cullen, who said in August that Wharton had been “dominating” in training camp.

The Chiefs have benefited from Wharton’s progress. Jones often draws double-teams because of his previous production, leaving the Chiefs’ other pass-rushers to go against single blockers.

So far, Wharton has been among the players taking advantage most, contributing nine QB pressures in three games.

Wharton said the ultimate goal is to flash enough to get Jones some single-teams of his own.

“The more and more I could continue dominating on the opposite side of him, eventually they’ll have to respect my game as well,” Wharton said. “And we’ll be a duo.”

Wharton’s contract certainly looks like a steal at this point. The Missouri S&T product was an unrestricted free agent this offseason before he agreed to a one-year, $2.7 million deal back with the Chiefs.

One reason for returning, Wharton said, was loyalty to the team that developed him after he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

“I just felt like I didn’t finish up here,” Wharton said. “This team gave me a chance coming out of college, and I worked for it, but I’ve been on the active roster every year. They brought me back after the injury, and we won. But I don’t feel like I was a part of it all the way.”

With 153 snaps in 2024, Wharton is quickly trending toward breaking his previous high of 612 snaps in 2020.

Following the early success, Wharton says his focus remains on being the best player he can be.

“I think everybody’s happy, including my teammates. Everybody’s encouraging me and recognizing my game, so that’s been good,” he said. “But it’s only Game 3.”