The Kansas City Chiefs’ first preseason game of 2025 gave linebacker Nick Bolton and the defense a live-action test after weeks of training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. After Saturday night’s 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Bolton found himself encouraged by the unit’s physicality — and ability to generate turnovers — but he also recognized things that need to be tightened up before the regular season.

“Yeah, I think we did a decent job during the game. I think tackling was pretty decent, [although] we got some leaky yards. I think our run defense showed up pretty well, got some physicality and obviously we got a turnover.

“[So] some of the things we wanted to do this year, we were able to do that, so I think it’s a good start, good foundation but a lot to improve on still.”

Bolton was happy to drill down on it.

”I think one of the things we can improve on is yards after contact,” he noted. “I think [their] running backs had a little bit too much — for the first team, for sure. Fixing that — and then also, just a little bit [better] zone-overage wise. We had some good matches, but Kyler [Murray] — early in the series— hit a dig [route] in right behind our linebackers.

“So I just want to see that stuff improve as we keep going. Our communication, I think, as a defense — as a whole — is pretty good. [We] just need to improve upon that as we keep going.”

Bolton is also happy with rookie linebacker Jeff Bassa, whom the Chiefs took in the fifth round of April’s draft.

“Every week, every day, he’s getting a little bit better,” Bolton said. [He is] learning the scheme, asking good questions [and] trying to find the right answer.

“I think all those things add up over time — and you [could] see in the game: he led the team in tackles, if I’m not mistaken. [So he’s] off to a good start. That dude is confident — a high-IQ guy. I’m excited for what he has for us.”

Asked about his first meeting with the rookie, Bolton smiled.

“He’s a big yapper,” said Bolton. “He likes to talk a little bit — have fun, talk a little junk every once in a while. But you can tell he’s a high-IQ guy. [But he’s] willing to learn — [and] eager to learn. [There’s] a lot of humility with that guy.”

Bolton also credits linebackers coach Brendan Daly’s style for the unit’s success, calling him “a player’s coach.”

“[He] understands that everybody’s not the same, so he gives you different skills and keys based off your size and your style of play. Me and Leo [Chenal] don’t have the same exact skillset — [and] neither do me and Drue [Tranquill] — so he definitely tries to find things [for the] individual to cater around that. It definitely makes our job a little bit easier.

“We just come out there and just execute what he has out there in drills; we just go out there and play and have fun. But also, he’s a high-IQ guy. Obviously, he has won a lot, been a lot of different places and [has] been able to win. He brings that to our room: competition, IQ [and] physicality — all [the] things he preaches. He is a great coach.”

But there’s little doubt about the defensive identity that Daly — and Bolton — want to build.

“Obviously, [it’s] just tackling, man,” he said. “We want to come in and be a good-tackling team — and I think we did a pretty decent job tackling. So [we’re] just building upon that.”

And ultimately, turning that “good foundation” into complete, 60-minute performances in September — and beyond.