KANSAS CITY — It’s a safe assumption that when the Chiefs sent Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta, they didn’t expect a tight end to lead their passing game yet again.

But there they are, four games into their first season without Gonzalez in more than a decade, and journeyman Sean Ryan leads their receivers list. Ryan, who caught 12 passes his first five NFL seasons, has 11 in leading the Chiefs.

Mark Bradley, Dwayne Bowe and Bobby Wade are all right behind Ryan with 10, and one or more of those players could move ahead of Ryan during today’s game against Dallas at Arrowhead Stadium.

That Ryan is their receiving leader could be taken as a statement on the health of the Chiefs’ passing game. At this pace, Ryan at season’s end would have 44 catches, the lowest total for Kansas City’s team leader since Todd McNair also caught 44 passes in 1992.

Still, Ryan is giving the Chiefs more as a receiver than they expected. Coach Todd Haley knew Ryan from early in Ryan’s pro

career when they were both with the Cowboys.

The Chiefs signed Ryan in the offseason to be a second tight end and mostly a blocker. But Ryan played better than Brad Cottam in training camp and won the starting job.

The recent addition of Leonard Pope could cut into Ryan’s pass-catching chances, but it’s evident Haley still wants Ryan on the field.

“I always kind of held out hope that Sean would become a starting-type player in the league, even way back when I first got to know him,” Haley said. “He’s a guy that’s worked really hard in all areas all the time. I think those types of guys you need on your team.”

Ryan has shown some staying power just to still be employed in the NFL. He began his career with two seasons in Dallas, moved to the Jets for two more years and last season alone played for Miami, New Orleans and San Francisco.

Through it all, he never gave up on himself.

“This has been my first real opportunity to be a starting tight end and to be on the field every day,” Ryan said. “I wish it happened before my sixth year, but five years of knowledge helped me out a lot.”