By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up their 16th training camp practice on Friday at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.
It was a shorter, lighter 10-10-10 practice in half pads as the team gets set to play their first preseason game at New Orleans on Sunday.
Head coach Andy Reid says it’ll be a great opportunity just to compete with another team.
"I'm excited to see the young guys play," he said. "And the vets will knock off their rust. We're still in the evaluation period. Let's make it fair game. Get out there and compete your hearts out."
Patrick Mahomes says his message to the younger players trying and fighting to make the 53-man roster is to simply leave it all on the field and have fun.
"Just go out there and play fast," Mahomes said. "Don't worry about making a mistake. Just go out there and fly around and let your natural talent and ability show. You've learned it. You've been coached up with it. Trust yourself."
Receiver Kadarius Toney (knee), defensive tackle Turk Wharton (knee), tight end Jody Forston (shoulder), corner L’Jarius Sneed (knee) and Isiah Pacheco will not play Sunday as they recover from injuries.
Toney, Wharton, Forston and Sneed did not practice Friday. Chris Jones was not there, either.
Pacheco has worked every day of camp, including Friday, but he's still in the no-contact jersey as he recovers from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Mahomes and all of the quarterbacks also wear no-contact jerseys during training camp, but Mahomes says it’s that first hit in a game that he looks forward to.
"You want to get hit where it's not too hard but you feel it," he said. "You go through a long offseason of working through the pocket and knowing the guys are rushing, but can't touch you. It's just different when you get in the game and you're able to get tackled."
"I also like to have one or two drives under my belt."
Reid said the starters will play in the first quarter, the second string players in the second quarter and so on.
Sunday's game kicks off at noon central. You can hear the Chiefs Radio Network broadcast on Q Country 92.7 FM and KFEQ (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.
It'll also be televised nationally on the NFL Network and locally on KSHB 41 in Kansas City.
Standing with Eric Bieniemy
Former Chiefs offensive coordinator and current offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders, Eric Bieniemy, was in the news this week after Washington head coach Ron Rivera acknowledged that some players approached him with concerns about how hard Bieniemy works them in practice.
Many players who were coached by Bieniemy have since come to his defense. Mahomes joined that list on Friday.
"He will go to war with you just live every other guy on your team," Mahomes said. "You have to know that and you have to know when he's talking to you on the football field, he's trying to get the best out of you. He's not trying to put you down. He's trying to push you to be even better than you think you can be."
"They'll understand when they start winning football games - there's a reason why he's coaching you the way he's coaching you."
Reid said Bieniemy's intensity and personality is part of what made the Chiefs so successful during his time in Kansas City from 2013-2022.
"We always talk about letting your personality show and I think that's an important part of it," Reid said. "I think when it's all said and done, their guys will appreciate it. He's going to challenge you. They'll appreciate it when they're winning games."
Bieniemy didn't shy away from the topic when he was asked about it earlier in the week.
“Yes, I am intense,” Bieniemy said. “I’m going to be their biggest and harshest critic, but I’m also their number one fan, because I’ve got their back and I’m going to support them at all times.”
What's next
Kansas City will have three more training camp practices next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and the final one on Thursday.
The team has the day off Monday and will take the field on Tuesday morning at 9:15 in St. Joseph.
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.