The Kansas City Chiefs‘ players and coaches started reporting to Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Missouri, for training camp this week.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Sunday, July 20. “We look forward to the season getting started. It should be a great environment for learning and conditioning.
“The expectations are always high, and that’s a plus. The guys who have been here have earned the right to have it that way. But at the same time, you have to maintain that,” Reid added, noting how the AFC West gets tougher each year.
Reid kicked off the press conference by naming just three players on the active/PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform): tight end Tre Watson, cornerback Kristian Fulton, and right tackle Jawaan Taylor.
Taylor, the Chiefs’ starting right tackle, underwent knee surgery this offseason. Fulton, who signed a two-year, $20 million contract to join the Chiefs in free agency, is dealing with an undisclosed injury, as is Watson, an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M.
The surprising news is who’s not on the list. “Everybody else is good to go,” Reid said. “We should be ripping and ready by tomorrow.”
Chiefs TE Jared Wiley Is Ready to Practice
While Chiefs tight end Jared Wiley was expected to start training camp on the PUP list, he’s ready to go. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, there was a lot of excitement for the 6-foot-6, 249-pound pass-catching weapon. He scored the most touchdowns (8) of any FBS tight end in 2023.
After tight end Jordy Fortson suffered a season-ending injury in Week 8, all signs pointed toward the rookie getting more targets. But then Wiley popped up on the team’s injury report, and the bad news kept coming. He tore his ACL during practice on a non-contact injury.
With Travis Kelce and Noah Gray set to be the team’s starting tight ends, Wiley is expected to compete for work with Robert Tonyan.
Andy Reid Addressed the Elephant in the Room: Chiefs WR Rashee Rice’s Expected Suspension
GettyChiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024.
Following a multi-vehicle car crash that left multiple people injured last year, Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years of probation.
Rice is expected to be suspended by the league, however, it’s unknown when the punishment will be handed down or how many games he may be suspended. “No,” Reid said as far as updates. “I don’t have anything.”
However, the Chiefs aren’t making any adjustments to their practice plan when it comes to their No. 1 wideout. “We’re going to progress as normal with him. He’ll go in and take all the reps that he’d normally take, and we always rotate that position,” Reid added.
“So, depending on what happens here in the future, whoever needs to play will be able to step in. They’ll know what they’re doing and be in good shape to do it. But we’re just going to, like I said, just progress as normal.”
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