r/KansasCityChiefs

The Chiefs will have a lighter workout at Missouri Western State University on Thursday before a travel day to Tampa, Florida, on Friday. After the trip, the club will resume practices in Kansas City.

--> Battle watch: Yet another name emerges amid injuries to O-line

> The first-team offensive line shakeup continued Wednesday, with starting left tackle Josh Simmons and right guard Trey Smith out of practice.

> Just like on Tuesday, Jaylon Moore worked at left tackle, with Kahlil Benson at right tackle. But on Wednesday, former 2024 fifth-round pick Hunter Nourzad replaced Mike Caliendo at right guard.

> The injuries to Simmons and Smith aren’t considered serious, but at this stage, it seems unlikely they will suit up for Saturday’s preseason game.

> Once again, Drue Tranquill was limited and Jack Cochrane was out of practice, so linebackers Jeff Bassa and Cooper McDonald continued to receive added work with the top-team defense.

> “Second year, he’s right about where you would think he would be,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said of Bassa. “The one challenge he’s going to have is we’re gonna ask him to play a lot of different spots there, which is a good thing for him because that means we’ve got the confidence in him.”

> L’Jarius Sneed completed warmups and installs but is still limited. Cornerbacks Mansoor Delane and Nohl Williams remained Spagnuolo’s starters outside, with Chris Roland-Wallace inside in the slot.

--> Team period notes

> Kansas City began practice with an 11-on-11 team blitz period, which saw George Karlaftis knock down Patrick Mahomes’ first pass at the line of scrimmage. Mahomes then completed passes to wide receiver Nikko Remigio and tight end Noah Gray.

> The Chiefs sent out the first team against the second team for 11-on-11 red-zone and heavy goal-line work.

> On the first play at the edge of the red zone, Mahomes fell as he handed the ball off to Emari Demercado. The quarterback looked a little shaken up, but he was able to walk it off.

> Mahomes’ unit converted four plays at the goal line for touchdowns — with Kenneth Walker following a lead block from Jared Wiley, a play-action pass to Travis Kelce, another Walker rush and a pass to Rashee Rice, who was open after some pre-snap ghost motion.

> On a dewy day in St. Joseph, Rice was somewhat up and down, with four receptions but what looked like three drops during team periods.

> Linebacker Cooper McDonald broke up a Justin Fields pass at the edge of the red zone. In four plays at the goal line, Fields’ second team scored three times, including a Demercado rush, a quarterback keeper and an Emmett Johnson rush.

> Rookie cornerback D’Arco Perkins-McAllister deflected a Garrett Nussmeier pass intended for Jake Briningstool, and he picked it off.

> Perkins-McAllister later broke up a Fields pass during 7-on-7. Cornerback Kader Kohou and safety Tanner McCalister had breakups in 7-on-7 going against Nussmeier.

> During 11-on-11 to close practice, it was more red-zone work. After bringing in a pass from Mahomes with one hand, Kelce appeared to cut his route short, leading to a diving interception by Jaden Hicks.

> “He was a little down (Tuesday), and then today he made a big play in the red zone,” Spagnuolo said of Hicks. “But he’s kind of been on that trajectory, and he should be. He’s been in the system for a while now, and those kind of guys I put a little bit more pressure on because I expect them to know more and not make mistakes that maybe a rookie would make.”

> The rest of the first-team reps included Mahomes targets to Rice, Cyrus Allen and Jalen Royals.

--> One-on-one notes

> In passing one-on-ones, wide receiver Jacob De Jesus went vertical to beat cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace on a long back-shoulder reception near the beginning of the period. Roland-Wallace rebounded nicely with good coverage the rest of his reps.

> I have been impressed with De Jesus and fellow receiver Omari Evans when they have been given opportunities. Williams has continued to show sticky coverage.

> The play of the day likely came on one-on-ones, with Allen making a one-handed catch to beat Delane despite close coverage.

> “I think Cyrus has come in and he’s taken the coaching,” receivers coach Chad O’Shea said. “He’s done a great job of working extremely hard and trying to concentrate on the things that we’ve asked him to do.”

> In OL-DL drills, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga and Moore — working at left tackle — were the day’s standouts.

--> Run period rotation

> With Mahomes and the first team, Walker took the first two carries, followed by two for Demercado. Brashard Smith took the next pair, followed by another for Walker before Mahomes went to the other field.

> Johnson had the first two rushes with the second team, followed by one for Demercado, one for Jadyn Ott and another for Johnson.

> With the third team, EJ Smith had two carries, and Ott had one.

--> Target practice: Mahomes in 7-on-7, 11-on-11

> Mahomes in 7-on-7: wide receiver Rashee Rice (4), wide receiver Nikko Remigio (2), wide receiver Jalen Royals (2), wide receiver Cyrus Allen, tight end Noah Gray, tight end Travis Kelce, running back Brashard Smith, wide receiver Xavier Worthy

> Mahomes in 11-on-11: tight end Travis Kelce (3), wide receiver Rashee Rice (3), wide receiver Cyrus Allen, running back Emari Demercado, tight end Noah Gray, wide receiver Nikko Remigio, wide receiver Jalen Royals

--> Injury report

> Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will speak Thursday and should provide a final injury report to conclude training camp.

Cyrus Allen is a human highlight reel. Every day, this dude makes an amazing catch. I think he’ll massively progress up on the depth chart as he goes.

At the moment, I think he’s currently WR4 and that Rice, Worthy, and Thornton are still over him. However by the end of the season, he could be a starter. I do hope especially when December/January comes around, he gets lots of snaps.

By the end of next season though? I legit think he has a chance of being WR1. Rashee Rice is leaving in free agency. Tyquan Thornton possibly leaving too. While not a WR, Travis Kelce possibly retiring. I feel like next season, Allen could be WR1 on the depth chart, followed by Worthy. A guy in free agency and/or draft is nice too, but I really like Cyrus Allen’s chances as the next star in the Kingdom.