KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Here’s a player-by-player look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ 53-man roster:

QUARTERBACK (3)

Alex Smith: The Chiefs have improved around him; now it’s time for him to deliver bigger numbers.

Chase Daniel: The Chiefs believe they can win with him after his impressive preseason.

Aaron Murray: He also showed well in preseason.

RUNNING BACK (4)

Jamaal Charles: He made it through preseason without an injury, putting himself ahead of last year.

Anthony Sherman: The Chiefs’ only fullback is also a solid special-teams player.

Knile Davis: The Chiefs need more than he’s delivered as both a runner and pass receiver.

Charcandrick West: His preseason ended early because of a concussion, but he showed considerable skills in training camp and in the early exhibition schedule.

WIDE RECEIVER (6)

Jeremy Maclin: He played well in training camp and the preseason and showed a nice rapport with Alex Smith.

Albert Wilson: He finished last season with a flourish but was disappointing in training camp and the preseason.

Jason Avant: He will get some work as a slot receiver.

De'Anthony Thomas: A calf injury kept him from playing throughout most of the preseason.

Chris Conley: He’s making a push for playing time after finishing the preseason well.

Frankie Hammond Jr.: Special-teams skills helped him make the final roster.

TIGHT END (4)

Travis Kelce: He should expand his numbers from last season now that he’s a full-time player.

James O'Shaughnessy: The Chiefs are showing a lot of faith in a fifth-round draft pick by asking him to be their second tight end.

Demetrius Harris: He only recently returned to practice after breaking his foot, so he may be limited early in the season.

Brian Parker: He joined the Chiefs Sunday after he was claimed from the Chargers off waivers.

OFFENSIVE LINE (8)

Eric Fisher: The left tackle played in one preseason game and hasn’t practiced for three weeks because of a sprained ankle, but he should be ready for the opener.

Ben Grubbs: The Chiefs traded for this former Pro Bowler in the offseason to start at left guard.

Mitch Morse: A second-round draft pick, Morse made great progress throughout the preseason and will start at center.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif: The former sixth-round draft pick from Canada’s McGill University looks like he’s won the right guard spot.

Donald Stephenson: He filled in first for the injured Jeff Allen at right tackle, then Fisher on the left; he will start on the right side.

Jeff Allen: He missed almost all of the preseason with a sprained knee and probably won’t be ready for the opener.

Paul Fanaika: The Chiefs like versatility in their backup linemen and Fanaika can play three positions.

Zach Fulton: His ability to play center allowed the Chiefs to feel confident in putting Eric Kush on waivers.

DEFENSIVE LINE (6)

Allen Bailey: An excellent three-down player who rushes the passer well but also is good against the run.

Jaye Howard: He replaced the injured Dontari Poe at nose tackle and played well against the run in the preseason.

Mike DeVito: He returns after missing all but the season opener last year because of a torn Achilles tendon.

Dontari Poe: The Chiefs kept him on the active roster, a sign that his return after having back surgery isn’t far off.

Nick Williams: He won a roster spot with solid play in the preseason.

Rakeem Nunez-Roches: Drafted in the sixth round this year, he’s a developmental prospect who will have trouble finding playing time early in his career.

LINEBACKER (9)

Justin Houston: The Chiefs are eager to see what he can do for an encore after leading the NFL in sacks and getting a lucrative, long-term contract.

Derrick Johnson: He looked good during the preseason after missing all but the season opener last year with a torn Achilles tendon.

Josh Mauga: Mauga will need to play well to hold off rookie Ramik Wilson and keep his starting spot.

Tamba Hali: Hali could be in his final season with the Chiefs after a solid career.

Dee Ford: It’s a disappointment if he doesn’t play more than he did as a first-round draft pick last year.

Frank Zombo: This versatile veteran can play the inside and outside position and is solid on special teams.

Josh Martin: He made the team mostly for his ability on special teams.

Ramik Wilson: A fourth-round draft pick, Wilson showed good ball skills and instincts during training camp and the preseason.

D.J. Alexander: A fifth-round pick, Alexander looks more like a developmental prospect who won’t get much playing time as a rookie.

CORNERBACK (5)

Marcus Peters: He was one of the stars of training camp, but opposing quarterbacks will be looking to test the first-round draft pick.

Phillip Gaines: Gaines also played well in the preseason and could be ready to blossom as a solid starter.

Jamell Fleming: He will play a lot, at least early in the season, as the third cornerback.

Marcus Cooper: Cooper’s roster spot may have been saved because Sean Smith will be suspended for the season’s first three games.

Steven Nelson: A third-round draft pick whose role early in the season should be mostly on special teams.

SAFETY (5)

Husain Abdullah: The Chiefs appreciate his considerable skills in pass coverage.

Ron Parker: He replaced Eric Berry as a starter last year and played so well he not only earned a long-term contract but also kept the starting spot even with Berry back.

Tyvon Branch: A former starter for the Raiders, he played well this summer as an extra defensive back.

Eric Berry: It will be interesting to see what role the Chiefs come up with for Berry, who has played mostly in passing situations during camp and the preseason.

Daniel Sorensen: He won a backup job because of his strong special-teams skills.

SPECIALISTS (3)

Cairo Santos: He overcame a slow start last year to have a solid rookie season at kicker.

Dustin Colquitt: Colquitt is an underrated punter who has a nice touch inside the 20.

James Winchester: His first long-snap in Sunday’s opener at Houston will be his first in a regular-season NFL game.