ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The video of Chiefs quarterbacks throwing footballs at medicine balls made the rounds on the Internet in recent days, even receiving a posting on NFL.com.
So who came up with the idea?
“I sort of brought the quarterback competition thing here from New Orleans,” second-year Chiefs backup signal caller Chase Daniel said. “We do it every single day.”
Daniel, who signed with the Chiefs in 2013 after spending four seasons with the Saints, said he and his teammates, Alex Smith, Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray, often do the friendly competitions after the late afternoon walk-throughs.
“We have some free time after dinner,” Daniel said. “It works on our accuracy and we’re having fun, and the fans love it. It’s all in good fun.”
Defensive starters practicing
The Chiefs moved indoors Sunday due to inclement weather. But while the weather outside was bad, there was good news on the field.
Strong safety Eric Berry (right heel) and cornerback Marcus Cooper (hamstring) put in full a full practice in pads. Berry missed the past two days, while Cooper left Saturday’s practice.
Still, the Chiefs are dealing with injuries.
Outside linebacker Dezman Moses didn’t practice Sunday with an elbow injury.
Also not practicing are defensive end Jermelle Cudjo (hamstring), defensive tackle Kyle Love (ankle), wide receiver A.J. Jenkins (hamstring), wide receiver Junior Hemingway (hamstring) and wide receiver Mark Harrison (hamstring).
Hemingway has missed seven straight practices.
The Chiefs chose to hold out inside linebacker Joe Mays for precautionary reasons. Mays has been dealing with a sore knee and the team didn’t want to place him at risk on the indoor turf.
Defensive end Mike Catapano (illness) continues to be absent and has missed five days of practice.
The Chiefs excused center Eric Kush from Sunday’s practice. The reason for the absence was later revealed by Kush on Twitter:
Baby #2! 8lbs 9oz Eric Alonzo Kush welcome to the world and to chiefs kingdom!!!!! pic.twitter.com/6P5rjtGCjo
— Eric KC Kush (@EricKush64) August 3, 2014
Running back Joe McKnight (knee) and cornerback David Van Dyke (hamstring) remain on the physically unable to perform list.
Return to action
Tight end Demetrius Harris, who missed the past two days with an excused absence and running back Charcandrick West (hamstring) returned to practice Sunday.
Aug. 3, 2014; St. Joseph, MO; Chiefs safety Eric Berry (29) knocks the ball loose from tight end Demetrius Harris (47). Photo used with permission from Chiefs PR. Credit: KCChiefs.com.
Day Nine practice observations
• Wide receivers Albert Wilson and Kyle Williams joined starters Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery as a four-receiver set with the first-team unit during 11-on-11 drills.
• The Defensive Play of the Day is easily rookie outside linebacker Dee Ford blowing up offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb during a pass rush. Ford pushed Webb deep into the backfield, which immediately drew Ric Flair-like “Woos” from the defensive sideline.
• Coming in a very close second for the Defensive Play of the Day is safety Eric Berry against tight end Demetrius Harris on jump ball in end zone. Berry, who measures 6-0, out-muscled the 6-7 Harris to knock the ball away.
• Rookie right guard Zach Fulton filled in as the backup center with Eric Kush not at practice. Unfortunately, Fulton rolled a snap and also snapped a ball at the shin level. No. 3 center Ben Gottschalk didn’t fare better. A bad snap from Gottschalk resulted in a fumble, which outside linebacker Frank Zombo scooped up in stride with nothing but green in front of him.
• Quarterback Chase Daniel had one of Sunday’s prettiest passes during 11-on-11 drills. Daniel threw to the right side of the end zone where wide receiver Fred Williams made an acrobatic catch for the touchdown.
• Quarterback Tyler Bray had a nice inside throw to wide receiver Jerrell Jackson, who came open on a slant pattern into the end zone during 11-on-11 drills.
• Kicker Ryan Succop had his turn Sunday and went 1-of-3 from 50-plus yards. One of the misses went wide left, the other clanked off the right upright. Rookie Cairo Santos went 2-of-3 Saturday.
• Outside linebacker Frank Zombo spent time with tight end Travis Kelce before team drills practicing long snaps with Thomas Gafford, the team’s primary long snapper. The Chiefs need a backup long snapper following Sean McGrath’s retirement.
• The Chiefs continue to tinker with having outside linebackers Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Dee Ford on the field at the same time. Dontari Poe was the lone down lineman when the three pass rushers were on the field during 11-on-11 drills.
• Ryan McKee lined up at right tackle with the second-team offense during 11-on-11 drills. Ryan Harris manned the left tackle.
