Chiefs hold first full-squad workout
ST. JOSEPH, MO. » Clyde Edwards-helaire trotted down the long hill toward the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice field, one day after he was placed on the physically unable to perform list, and the competition was on to be the starting running back this season. Just like jobs at left tackle, cornerback and even wide receiver.
The Chiefs had their first full-squad workout of training camp on a warm, humid Wednesday morning with a cast that looks a lot different from how they finished last season. Edwards-helaire is competing with Ronald Jones II and a bevy of others for carries in the backfield, the cornerback job opposite L’jarius Sneed is up for grabs and, after the departure of Tyreek Hill and two other receivers, the pecking order for quarterback Patrick Mahomes is still to be determined.
“Looks like we’re in good shape, got a little foundation there and we’ll start building on that,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who wasted no time pitting tentative starters against each other with a crowd of thousands on hand.
“Offense won a few. Defense won a few. They were competing,” Reid said. “I was happy with the attitude and the work.”
Edwards-helaire briefly landed on the PUP list Tuesday while taking care of his conditioning test, then joined Jones and the rest of the running backs in what should be a spirited competition the next few weeks. Jerick Mckinnon is also back after a strong finish to last season with Derrick Gore and rookies Isiah Pacheco and Tayon Fleet-davis.
The left tackle job is up for grabs — at least for now — with Orlando Brown Jr. holding out after turning down an offer from the Chiefs to make him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league. Until he signs his franchise tender, the Chiefs are moving on without him, and Roderick Johnson got the first chance to take repetitions with the first-team offense.
“He was productive in the offseason so coming in we thought he could help out. We’ll see how it rolls,” said Reid, who added that moving stalwart left guard Joe Thuney to offensive tackle is not under current consideration.
“We’re going to keep rolling them in there,” Reid said. “Nothing is solidified in there.”
The cornerback situation is in flux, too, with Charvarius Ward leaving in free agency and Rashad Fenton landing on the PUP list with a shoulder injury. First-round pick Trent Mcduffie is the favorite to win a starting job, but fourth-round pick Joshua Williams also ran with the first-teamers Wednesday as he carves out a role in Steve Spagnuolo’s system.
“There’s something to be said for a fresh start and this is a new-look defense. We have a lot of new faces,” said another newcomer, safety Justin Reid, who picked off Mahomes for the highlight of practice. “We’re going to be starting a lot of guys that are hungry and want to prove their worth as players.”
That includes a bunch of wide receivers who are no doubt tired of hearing about how the Kansas City offense could sputter without Hill in the mix. Juju Smith-schuster was the star of Day 1 with a couple of impressive catches — albeit without any pads on — while Marquez Valdesscantling and second-round pick Skyy Moore also got plenty of reps. It could take all three of them to replace Hill’s production, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The Chiefs have given Mahomes more options in the passing game, and that in turn could make them more difficult to defend.
“The amount of routes I’m running — I think I’ve ran more routes out here than my previous offense,” said Smith-schuster, who had been catching passes from Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh the past five seasons.
“Being all over the field — inside, outside — that’s everyone. So many guys playing so many positions. It’s so nice moving so many guys around.”
The Chiefs are not expected to put on pads until next week, but Smithschuster nevertheless marveled at the speed of his first practice in Kansas City, along with the amount of running that Reid demands in training camp.
“I was hurt last year, didn’t get to play a lot of ball,” he said, “and coming into this season, I’m going to let my play write the story. Making plays on the field. I came here to win; this is a team that wins. And I’m excited to be here.”
Notes: DE Frank Clark was late to practice because of an illness, Reid said . ... OLS Lucas Niang (knee) and Prince Tega Wanogho (leg) joined Fenton on the PUP list . ... TE Travis Kelce was at practice after agreeing to terms on a restructured contract that moves $3 million from the end of his contract to this season. The length of the contract did not change with Kelce signed to the Chiefs through the 2025 season.
Jordan Sonogini came prepared for his overnight stay before opening day of Broncos training camp — even packing a tent that turned out to be a life saver once the skies opened up late Tuesday night.
Sonogini arrived at Uchealth Training Center at 5 p.m. Tuesday in an effort to be the first fan in line when the gates opened Wednesday morning at the Broncos’ practice facility. He achieved that goal — albeit with a little rain and lightning.
The 30-year-old was one of 2,057 who filled up roughly half the berm on the sunny side of the team’s practice field for start of Russell Wilson’s first training camp in Dove Valley.
That number was more than double the turnout for opening day last year (874), with many swarming to get an autograph or picture with the Broncos’ new quarterback at the conclusion of practice.
Sonogini, who has been a lifelong Broncos fan, believes Wilson will be a game-changer for the franchise.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the new camaraderie on the team and how Russell Wilson leads the team,” Sonogini said. “It’s exciting, the quarterback search has been going on for a while so this is a stepping stone in making it back to the Super Bowl.”
Another early bird fan, Tom Zeman, has attended every Broncos training camp since 1988 that wasn’t impacted by COVID-19, and he believes Wilson has already changed the trajectory of the team without stepping foot on the field.
“He’s all about relationships, all about connection and that’s really important,” Zeman said. “It’s all about how you stay connected as a team on the field and he’s making sure that happens.”
While Zeman is thrilled about having a seasoned quarterback, he was most excited to see new head coach Nathaniel Hackett and how he interacted with the players.
“He has a lot of energy,” Zeman said.
“I’ve been talking about his enthusiasm and what he brings to the team. The team is optimistic, it’s all the way through the building, and it starts with the coach.”
This year was also the first year players could interact with fans since the start of the pandemic.
After the training session, multiple players, including Wilson, met with fans bunched at the sidelines eager for autographs and selfies.
Attendee Maverick Villones, 29, thought Wilson really added to the fan experience and felt more liveliness from the crowd than past years.
“He’s energetic, interacts with the fans, and just has a great personality.” Villones said.
“There’s a new energy now that we have a new quarterback…it kind of reminds me of when we had Payton Manning.”
After what he thought was a good first day of training camp, Hackett noted the crowd’s support for the team and Wilson, saying he appreciated them being there.
With a new coach and quarterback, a new era has arrived for the Broncos.
While the team has a few more weeks before starting competitions, fans are hopeful about the future after what they saw on Day 1 with Wilson and Hackett.
“A coach and quarterback are two big things to fix but I think we have done that,” said Sonogini. “Now it’s time to put it all together as a team and get to the playoffs.”