Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer and publisher of Chiefs Digest. He joined Chiefs Digest in 2013 and became lead beat writer in 2016. He resides in Kansas City, Missouri.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s difficult, if not impossible, to play football at the highest level without loving the game, but even for a football player, few love the sport more than Chiefs center Mitch Morse. That’s what made his 2017 season so frustrating, with a foot injury robbing him of his power and strength. But that frustration combined with …
KANSAS CITY, Mo., — The Chiefs open training camp July 26 for the first of 15 practices open to the public, providing fans their first opportunity to see the 2018 edition of football in Kansas City. There’s much to do and see in St. Joseph, Mo., and around the Missouri Western State University campus. There are also plenty of things …
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Watching Breeland Speaks intercept at Patrick Mahomes pass during Tuesday’s minicamp practice would never lead a casual observer to believe they just saw a college defensive lineman making the jump to edge rusher in his rookie season. Indeed, he looked more like the MaxPreps all-American middle linebacker he was at Callaway High School in Jackson, Miss. …
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Dee Ford showed flashes of the first-round edge rusher the Chiefs hoped that were getting in the 2014 draft but there’s one time during his first four seasons he felt he pulled all his skills and talents together, a six-game stretch in 2016 when he picked up nine sacks. “That was not a flash,” Ford said …
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Chiefs have question marks at outside linebacker with injuries and untested commodities, but Dee Ford has high expectations for this year’s group, largely due to his perception of Justin Houston regaining his status as one of the league’s elite pass rushers. “Justin, he’s starting to really go back to that 22-sack guy,” Ford said. “We …
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The injury bug bit the Chiefs during the first workout of training camp as rookie safety Armani Watts left practice with an ankle injury. Watts limped to the sideline during individual drills early in practice. After a few moments with trainers in the medical tent, Watts rode a cart back to the training facility for further …
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes entered training camp a year ago simply trying to take advantage of every practice he received, and on Monday he takes the field preparing to lead a team for a generation. “Last year when I was coming in as the third quarterback, you don’t get a lot of reps so you want to make …
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Coaches, quarterbacks, rookies and select veterans reported to training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, and the arrival brought good news from coach Andy Reid on the team’s injury front. Reid said only WR De’Anthony Thomas and CB Ashton Lampkin expected to start training camp on the sidelines. That means that C Mitch Morse, …
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Preparing for three and a half weeks away from home is stressful enough but imagine holding the responsibility for 90 football players plus another 185 coaches and staff members. That’s the life of Chiefs equipment director Allen Wright as the team packed its trucks for the ride to St. Joseph on Tuesday. “You know how you …
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Longtime Chiefs defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas and former Washington offensive line coach Joe Bugel are the recipients of this year’s Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award, a lifetime achievement honor presented annually by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA). Thomas, also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player for the …
