Jul 26, 2014; St. Joseph, MO; Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) runs after a catch during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Chiefs are becoming the walking wounded since training camp started.
A trio of players did not finish Sunday’s practice: Right tackle Donald Stephenson suffered an ankle injury, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe dealt with cramps and fullback Jordan Campbell suffered a left foot injury.
Players who practiced Saturday, but sat out Sunday are center Eric Kush (ankle), wide receiver Junior Hemingway (hamstring), tight end Travis Kelce (knee) and inside linebacker Joe Mays (knee).
The Chiefs decided to rest Kelce and Mays.
Running back Joe McKnight (knee) and cornerback David Van Dyke (hamstring) remain on the physically unable to perform list, and defensive back Sanders Commings (foot) on the non-football injury list.
There is good news, however.
Strong safety Eric Berry, who dislocated a finger Saturday, was on the practice field Sunday morning.
Notes and observations
• The Chiefs were in pads for a second straight day. Sunday brought periods of live hitting.
• Wide receiver Frankie Hammond provided the play of the day, perhaps the play of training camp through four practices. Hammond took a short pass from quarterback Chase Daniel on the right side of the field, juked a defender and cut across the grain towards the left sideline with defenders in pursuit. He found the left sideline, accelerated and took off for the end zone for a touchdown.
• With inside linebacker Joe Mays resting, Josh Mauga saw some time with the first-team defense alongside Derrick Johnson.
• The rotation at right guard continues. Rookie Zach Fulton got the first crack with the first-team unit during 11-on-11 drills before giving way to Rishaw Johnson. The players also rotated at right guard during 9-on-9 drills. Jeff Linkenbach saw time at right guard and right tackle with the second team.
• Offensive lineman J’Marcus Webb took over at right tackle after Donald Stephenson (ankle) left practice. Ryan Harris, signed earlier in the week, saw time at left tackle with the second-team unit.
• Inside linebacker Derrick Johnson popped wide receiver Donnie Avery, who ran a pattern across the middle. Avery managed to haul in the catch despite Johnson’s big hit. Johnson later put a hit on tight end Demetrius Harris.
• With Eric Berry not on the field during a portion of 9-on-9 drills, safeties Daniel Sorensen and Malcolm Bronson received time with a mix of the first- and second-team defense.
• Tight end Anthony Fasano showed his physicality while catching a pass from quarterback Alex Smith. The pass was slightly behind Fasano, who adjusted his route and reached behind to haul in the ball. Safety Malcolm Bronson immediately hit Fasano, who absorbed the hit, stayed on his feet and rumbled for additional yards before being brought down by two defensive backs.
• Quarterback Tyler Bray had bad and good in consecutive plays. On the first play, Bray’s pass was intercepted by outside linebacker Dezman Moses, who appeared to jump the route and made a leaping catch. Bray’s confidence didn’t waver, however, as he rebounded on the next snap and found wide receiver Darryl Surgent deep down the field on the right sideline. Surgent beat cornerback Kevin Rutland on the play.
• Dwayne Bowe’s absence late in practice led to Kyle Williams and Frankie Hammond to see more repetitions.
• Left tackle Eric Fisher did not participate during the one-on-one session featuring offensive linemen vs. defensive linemen.
• New tight end Adam Schiltz is wearing No. 84. Schiltz did not participate in practice due to an acclimation period.
• NFL officials Gary Slaughter, John Lucivansky, Paul King, Julian Mapp, Dave Wyatt and Dave Meslow briefed the media Sunday afternoon on points of emphasis for the upcoming season, including illegal hands to the face, the use of the goalpost as a prop (dunking after a touchdown) and the league’s zero tolerance policy on taunting and unsportsmanlike conduct.
