By MATT PIKE
A rookie wide receivers season might be over before it even began
Fifth round pick Cyrus Allen left practice today during Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western State University after colliding with Kaiir Elam during a punt return drill. Allen had to be helped off the Mosaic Life Care practice field by trainers, unable to put weight on his left leg, before getting in a cart and going up the hill to the indoor sports complex for further evaluation.
As Allen spent camp elevating his way up the wide receiver depth chart, becoming a fan favorite for some of his impressive catches, many wonder why he would be out for special teams. Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub says when you're a rookie, you're on special teams, until your not.
"Until they establish themselves as a starter on offense or defense. And then we have to kind of pull back and maybe take them off in two or three phases," Toub tells reporters after practice. "But initially, everybody starts off as a four-phase guy and that's just the way we do it. It's worked over the years. It's hard not to keep a guy off just because he was drafted high and all of a sudden, to try to pull him back and make him a special teams player later. So, you start off that way, and then you wean them off as special teams guys as you go.”
Toub says even Travis Kelce started out on special teams. Per Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com, Kelce played one special teams snap in his rookie year, landing on IR with a preexisting microfracture in his knee. Derrick also points out that after year one, Kelce played 69 snaps on special teams in year two, 78 in year three and 14 in year four. In those three seasons, Kelce had 862, 875 and 1,125 yards receiving respectively. He hasn't played a special teams snap in nine seasons.
When speaking to reporters during the rookies and quarterbacks portion of Training Camp, Allen was asked about wanting to contribute on special teams, along with the offense.
"Oh yeah, I want to play special teams regardless," Allen said. "All four phases.
Toub says he is hoping for the best for Allen, a player who has really impressed coaches and fans during Training Camp.
"He's really doing well on offense, and he's doing well for me too," Toub says. "He's at gunner, he's at returner, he's doing a good job, he's putting himself in a good position to be a guy that's going to help us this year."
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, tests on Allen revealed a shin bruise. Nothing was torn or broken, a best-case scenario. Official word from Head Coach Andy Reid should come on Monday when the Chiefs return to practice. Xavier Worthy was also being evaluated for a shoulder injury after making an impressive catch and falling to the turf in the endzone during practice.
One player that is healthy, and is looking to make an impact for the Chiefs, is 2023 first round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah. The Kansas State and Lee's Summit High School product has stood out as the Chiefs look to replace Charles Omenihu.
Drafted in the first round in 2023, Anudike Uzomah was a role player in his rookie season, and played a slightly bigger role in his second season before suffering a season ending injury last year. Now, in a contract year, after having his fifth year option declined, and fully healthy, he's getting first team reps and is showing that he can start for the Chiefs.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones says getting Felix healthy was the biggest key to get to this point.
"A healthy Felix and now we're able to see the first round talent that we drafted with Felix," Jones says. "With him being healthy and him being able to broadcast his skillset."
Anudike Uzomah is competing with rookie R Mason Thomas and second year Ashton Gillote to fill the opposite side of the line from George Karlaftis.
The Chiefs are back at practice on Monday in pads for the first time at 9:15am
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.