By MATT PIKE
Kansas City Chiefs rookies, quarterbacks, and coaches began reporting to St. Joseph and the Missouri Western State University campus just ahead of the start of Chiefs Training Camp.
For three days prior to Training Camp, Chiefs rookies and quarterbacks will practice on the Mosaic Practice Fields, practices not open to the public, as a sort of ramp up to the first day of Chiefs Training Camp on Wednesday July 29th when veterans will take the field as well.
Head Coach Andy Reid says these next three days are a great chance for the rookies to get an introduction to the offense, defense, and special teams again.
"Where you can slow it down, I mean you don't have a ton of numbers, but you have enough where they can get in reps, but you've got to slow it down because of the numbers and heat and all that to get work done there, but it gives them a nice little ramp up," Reid tells reporters. "Then they get another review once the veterans get in of basically the same plays for those first couple days, so it can be beneficial as long as you're focused in on it and going."
After missing out on the playoffs last season, the Chiefs have put that in the rearview and are prepared to look ahead to the new year Reid says.
"The whole point of the mindset was last season was last season and its now, so we're not focusing on last season, we're focusing on now, and you're mindset has to be right for that and gong forward here," Reid explains. "Taking it one day at a time and cranking it out, and so that's where we're at, there's so much change in this thing every year is different, and if you're focused on the issues last year, it's going to take away from what you're doing this year."
Heading into camp, the Chiefs are relatively healthy as a team. Defensive tackle Omarr Norman Lott is likely to start camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list with his knee injury, Reid reports. However, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is clear to go in St. Joseph for Training Camp.
Mahomes, who suffered a torn ACL and LCL against the Los Angeles Chargers in December, has been cleared to practice in all periods during Chiefs Training Camp, just seven months after being injured. Mahomes has said his goal is to play in Week One of the regular season against the Denver Broncos. Reid says he remains optomisitic that his star quarterback will be able to be on the field for Monday Night Football September 14th.
Mahomes says to be able to practice with the team at MoWest during Training Camp was always one of the goals.
" It was another checkpoint on the schedule. Now it’s just trying to get better day by day, continuing to work in camp and try to prepare myself to get ready to go for week 1," Mahomes says. "I feel comfortable now to go out there and run the offense the way it’s supposed to be ran.”
On top of Mahomes being clear to practice, Rashee Rice is also healthy after recovering from his knee injury. First round pick Mansoor Delane, who sat out Chiefs OTA's, was undergoing a physical but could be back on the practice field as Chiefs rookies and quarterbacks begin practice on Saturday at 9:15am.
The practices on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are not open to the public. The Chiefs will have an off day on Tuesday before the first day of Chiefs Training Camp on Wednesday July 29th, which will be an Exclusive Season Ticket member day. The first full practice to the public will be Thursday July 30th.
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