The Mercedes Benz Superdome — home of the New Orleans Saints — is one of the loudest venues in the National Football League.
As the Kansas City Chiefs kick off the 2013 preseason in the Big Easy tonight at 7 on CBS, rookie fullback Braden Wilson’s emotions will be reaching a new decibel level, too.
“I’m really excited to get things started off,” the 6-foot-4, 256-pound Wilson said in a cellphone interview on Wednesday from the Chiefs’ training camp in St. Joseph, Mo. “It’s another level and I’m going to have to bring my ‘A’ game and be ready to go.
“It’s going to be nuts. I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait.”
A sixth-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, out of Kansas State, Wilson, who wears No. 40 on his uniform, was listed No. 2 on the first depth chart the Chiefs released last Friday.
Wilson sits behind Anthony Sherman (5-10, 242), a third-year pro out of Connecticut, on the depth chart. The Chiefs landed Sherman in a trade that sent Javier Arenas to the Arizona Cardinals shortly after the draft.
While Wilson has yet to play an NFL down, Sherman, who wears No. 42 for the Chiefs, had one carry for three yards and 13 catches for 111 yards over two seasons with the Cardinals.
“I was talking to some of my family the other day (his parents, Meg and Chuck, reside in Great Bend) and I was telling them that it’s been a long time since I’ve been in that situation,” Wilson said of being second string. “I just need to use that as motivation to bring my game to another level, to get to where I need to be.”
So what’s it going to take to win the job?
“I’m going to have to be assignment-sound and basically go out and make plays,” Wilson said. “I have (made some plays in training camp), but so has the other guy I’m competing against.
“It really comes down to these preseason games, so we’ll see what happens. Like I said, I’m excited for it.”
Wilson is the first player from Smith Center High School’s rich tradition to play in the NFL since Kansas State All-America linebacker Mark Simoneau, who endured 10 productive seasons with four teams.
Simoneau was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2000 draft before he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003. He was traded to the Saints in 2006 and played there until 2009, when he was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Simoneau finished his career with the Chiefs in 2010. He played his final NFL game against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 14, 2010, in Denver before being placed on injured reserve.
“I talk to him from time to time,” Wilson said of Simoneau. “He just told me to be myself and my game will take care of itself.”
Wilson resides in Olathe with his older brother Nick and sister-in-law Kate.