ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A total of 39 players took the field Saturday for the first workout of training camp for the Chiefs, but unfortunately only 36 finished day one.
First-year defensive end Ethan Downs went down with an apparent left leg injury during 7-on-7 drills after getting tangled with running back Emmett Johnson in pass coverage during red-zone work. There was no immediate word on his status.
Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe and offensive guard Josh Thompson also left practice early. The club expects to deliver injury updates on all three players Sunday.
Cornerback Mansoor Delane, the team’s No. 6 overall selection in this year’s first round, wore a yellow non-contact jersey as he returns from a shoulder injury suffered during offseason workouts. He received his final medical clearance for training camp Friday afternoon.
“It’s good, just getting better every day,” Delane said when asked about his shoulder injury. “Biggest thing right now is just getting my feet under me. I’m back, acclimated to the conditioning and being with the team.”
Mother Nature didn’t treat Chiefs’ rookies kindly on the first day in St. Joseph, with the temperature reaching 80 degrees by the end of practice with a heat index of 88. Similarly, conditions are expected for Sunday and Monday workouts before the team’s acclimation day on Tuesday.
Second-round defensive end R Mason Thomas said the pace of practice was different from college at Oklahoma, but growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, prepared him for the heat.
“I remember Coach (Andy) Reid talking about we don’t have to condition because the practice is that hard,” Thomas said, dripping with perspiration after Saturday’s workout. “So it makes sense why I’m looking like this at the end of practice.”
Among the 39 who reported to camp with rookies, first-year players, quarterbacks and injured veterans were a pair placed on the physically unable to perform list. Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (torn ACL) and rookie tight end John Michael Gyllenborg (knee strain) remain on the 90-player active roster but cannot practice until passing a physical. Both players worked out in the training tent adjacent to the practice fields.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (torn ACL) and defensive end Felix Anudike Uzomah (hamstring) were the only two veterans reporting early. The complete roster includes an additional three quarterbacks, seven draft picks, 21 undrafted free agents, and six first-year players.
The short numbers during this camp occasionally lead to a limitation on drills and double duty for some players. Kam Arnold was the only linebacker remaining on the field after Bissainthe’s departure, leading to Downs filling in at outside linebacker at times during 7-on-7.
Complete Early Camp Roster
Quarterbacks (4): Patrick Mahomes, Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun
Running backs (3): Emmett Johnson, Jaydn Ott and EJ Smith
Wide receivers (7): Cyrus Allen, Jimmy Holliday, Andrew Armstrong, Omari Evans, Xavier Loyd, Jacob De Jesus and Jeff Caldwell
Tight ends (2): Tre Watson and John Michael Gyllenborg (PUP)
Offensive line (3): OT Kahlil Benson, OG Josh Thompson and OC Pete Nygra
Defensive line (9): DT Peter Woods, DE R Mason Thomas, DT Omarr Norman-Lott (PUP) DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE Ethqn Downs, DT Cole Brevard, DT Damon Payne, DT Amari McNeil, DE Anthony Dunn and DE VJ Anthony
Linebackers (2): Kam Arnold and Wesley Bissainthe
Cornerbacks (6): Mansoor Delane, Jadon Canady, Melvin Smith, Bryce Phillips, Zelmar Vedder and D’Arco Perkins-McAllister
Safeties (2): Xavier Nwankpa and DeShon Singleton
