Jun 17, 2014; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs cornerback Sanders Commings (26) runs footwork drills during minicamp. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Second-year defensive back Sanders Commings can’t catch a break.
The former Georgia Bulldog started training camp on the non-football injury list with a foot injury and missed the first five days of practice.
He returned Wednesday, and then it happened late in the morning practice.
Running back Jamaal Charles hit the hole between the right guard and right tackle during 11-on-11 drills and Commings went to meet him. Charles gave Commings a wiggle in the open field, and then burst across the grain to the left with Commings’ momentum carrying him to the right before falling to the ground.
Commings lay on the ground and slammed his right fist into the ground. He was slow to get up, prompting two trainers to sprint to his position and to help him to the medical tent, as Commings couldn’t put pressure on his right leg.
The trainers removed his right cleat and taped the ankle area before loading Commings on a cart to remove him from the practice field area.
The Chiefs officially announced following practice Commings suffered an ankle injury.
Commings hasn’t avoided the injury bug since the Chiefs selected him in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.
He suffered a broken collarbone the first week of training camp practice in 2013, and eventually started the regular season on injured reserve with a designation to return.
The Chiefs activated Commings during the Week 10 bye and he appeared in two games before aggravating the shoulder injury. The Chiefs then placed him on season-ending injured reserve in Week 13.
Commings underwent offseason shoulder surgery in January, and he appeared healthy during organized team activities (OTAs) and the three-day mandatory minicamp.
Prior to reporting for training camp, Commings suffered a foot strain while training before Wednesday’s injury.
Non-participants
Wide receiver Junior Hemingway (hamstring), defensive lineman Mike Catapano (illness), offensive lineman Otis Hudson (back) and cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday.
Hemingway has missed three straight days of practice.
Running back Joe McKnight (knee) and cornerback David Van Dyke (hamstring) remain on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and out of practice.
Return to action
Right tackle Donald Stephenson (ankle) returned to practice after leaving Monday’s practice. His left ankle appeared to be heavily taped.
Center Eric Kush (ankle) also returned to practice after not participating in Monday’s practice.
Rookie cornerback Phillip Gaines, who left Monday’s practice for an evaluation of a possible head injury, returned to the practice field Wednesday.
Second-team offense shines during goal line work
Chiefs quarterback Chase Daniel broke the huddle with the second-team offense and glanced over his linemen at the defense before taking the snap.
Daniel wasn’t facing the second- or third-team defense during Wednesday’s 11-on-11 goal line drill. Instead, he squared off against a first-team unit that featured an NFL-high six Pro Bowl defenders in 2013.
It should’ve been a mismatch, but the second-team offense scored not once, not twice, but four times from the 2-yard line.
Daniel took the first two snaps, scoring on a rushing touchdown on his last play, before giving way to Tyler Bray for the final two plays. Bray’s highlight came on a bootleg to his left and he found tight end Richard Gordon, who pressed the back of the end zone, for the touchdown.
Conversely, the first-team offense with quarterback Alex Smith under center didn’t enjoy much success against the second-team defense, going 1-of-4 from the 2-yard line.
Strong safety Daniel Sorensen had the top defensive play of the four-snap series, knocking away a Smith pass intended for running back Jamaal Charles coming out of the backfield.
Rookie quarterback Aaron Murray failed to get in the end zone in two plays against the third-team defense.
The offense came away with five scores in 10 snaps.
Day Six practice observations
• Wide receiver Mark Harrison continues to turn heads and made a crowd-pleasing leaping grab over cornerback Sean Smith during one-on-one drills. Unfortunately, Harrison came up after the athletic grab and flipped the ball the Smith. That action could lead to a penalty this season when considering the NFL has made unsportsmanlike conduct, which includes taunting, a point of emphasis. Harrison later left practice with what the Chiefs said is a hamstring injury.
• Quarterback Alex Smith connected deep down the field with rookie running back De’Anthony Thomas, who split and blew by cornerback Justin Rogers and inside linebacker James-Michael Johnson. Free safety Malcolm Bronson saved what would’ve been a touchdown.
• Rookie Zach Fulton saw a lot of snaps at right guard with the first-team offense during 11-on-11 drills. Rishaw Johnson appeared to get his snaps with the second team. As often stated after each practice, this rotation will continue. The Chiefs are scheduled to release the first depth chart of the summer days before the first preseason game.
• Starting left guard Jeff Allen displayed versatility during 11-on-11 drills, moving from his normal position to right tackle. Ricky Henry took Allen’s place at left guard.
• Backup quarterback Chase Daniel threw a gorgeous pass down the seam to rookie wide receiver Albert Wilson for a touchdown during 11-on-11 drills. Wilson beat cornerback Chris Owens on the play.
• Inside linebacker Josh Mauga, who signed a free-agent contract before training camp, saw time with the first-team defense alongside Derrick Johnson during 11-on-11 drills. Projected starter Joe Mays, who has been dealing with a sore knee, was in and out of drills throughout most of the morning practice.
• Starting left tackle Eric Fisher participates in team-related 9-on-9 and 11-on-11 drills, but continues to not participate in one-on-one drills between the offensive linemen and defensive linemen.
• Kicker Ryan Succop came out of Wednesday’s battle against rookie Cairo Santos with a one-kick lead. Succop was perfect in his attempts, while Santos lone miss clanged off the left upright.
