Felix Anudike-Uzomah earns first-team action and 4 more takeaways from Day 3 of Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp
The Kansas City Chiefs continued with Day 3 of training camp practices on Friday. There were new injury developments, new standouts with the first team, continued success stories, and a special guest on the field during practice.
The Kansas City Chiefs continued their training camp practices at Missouri Western State University with their third full-team session on Friday.
Omarr Norman-Lott (knee) remained the only player held out of practice. He remains on the Active/PUP list. Mansoor Delane (shoulder) remained in his yellow non-contact jersey. The team had a new injury during practice, with DE Ashton Gillotte leaving early due to a hamstring strain.
“We had one injury with (Ashton) Gillotte,” Reid said. “He had a strained hamstring. So, we’re just checking that out. We got him out of there. He’ll start his rehab and MRI and all of that stuff. Don’t think it’s too bad.”
Even with the optimism, between that injury and the injury to Ethan Downs, the Chiefs are already dangerously thin at the edge rusher position.
This practice wasn’t quite as wet as yesterday’s workout, but the emphasis on under-center running still seemed just as prevalent as it was a day ago. What else did we learn from Day 3 of training camp?
Felix Anudike-Uzomah earning first-team repetitions one day after praise from Spags
On Thursday, Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo praised Felix Anudike-Uzomah for a play and spoke about how much they need him to step up and stay healthy. A day later, the former first-round pick was inserted into the starting lineup opposite George Karlaftis. That’s not a coincidence.
“(DE) Felix (Anudike-Uzomah), getting Felix back has been pretty important, especially with the fact that (LB) Ethan (Downs) got dinged,” Spagnuolo said. “In my mind, Felix made one really good play today in the run game, and let’s hope he can do that, get over the injury issues and be a factor for us.”
Anudike-Uzomah stood out several times during practice. He even had a good rush on the play that Cyrus Allen caught his one-handed grab in between three defenders (see below). The Chiefs need someone to emerge from the edge rusher room, and if it’s Anudike-Uzomah, it’d be a sight for sore eyes.
“Felix (Anudike-Uzomah) is actually doing a nice job,” Reid said. “Looks like his get-off explosion is better, and you know we’ll see once the pads get on and going. But yeah, he’s shown us some things here.”
Would he have seen as much play if Gillotte were not hurt? There’s no way of knowing that for certain. He’s taking advantage of the early opportunity regardless.
Kahlil Benson seemingly gains ground in right tackle competition
The Chiefs have held three full team practice sessions. For two of those three practices, Kahlil Benson has been with the starters at right tackle. I’m told Benson was better during Friday’s practice, though FAU did get the best of him a few times.
“He’s got talent,” Reid said. “We’re early, so I want to see. I want to see how he does as we go. And can you pound through those two-and-a-half-hour practices in the heat with the pads on and so on? And how do you handle that? And then you’ve got the preseason game. How do you handle that? So it’s a long, long road, but we’ll see. We’ll see how he does. But up to this point, you know, my hat goes out to him. He’s doing a good job.”
On Friday, Jaylon Moore worked at second-team right tackle with Esa Pole at left tackle. The day prior, it was Moore at left tackle with Pole at second-team right tackle. What’s apparent here is that Benson is getting a long look as a starter. Will Benson have a third consecutive practice as a starter at right tackle? Will he continue to be the starter for the team’s first padded practice of training camp on Monday? That could be a significant development.
Cyrus Allen proves to be Kansas City Chiefs training camp highlight machine
Cyrus Allen has reached training camp darling status at record pace and for good reason. The rookie wide receiver continues to make play after play. He had several standout plays during practice on Friday, including a one-handed grab that drew praise from fans and media members alike. The play was so good that ESPN’s Nate Taylor said FOX 4 Kansas City reporter Harold R. Kuntz stood up out of his seat in the press tent.
Our friend Farzin Vousoughian got a good video of the play.
Our friend Pete Sweeney at the KC Star had this to say on Allen’s early involvement in training camp: “Early in camp here with Rashee Rice not working team, Cyrus Allen has undoubtedly been Patrick Mahomes’ favorite target. It feels like he’s looking Allen’s way every time he’s out there.”
This doesn’t feel like a one-off situation for Allen. He’s legitimately stacking standout practices. The next test will be maintaining it when the pads come on this Monday.
“Listen, he’s done a nice job,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid said of Allen after practice. “The quarterback trusts him… He’s got to clean some things up, but he’s willing to work at it and do that. So, he’s had a productive two days. You’ve got to keep stacking those as you go, and then you’ve got to get the pads on, and we’ll see from there.”
Kansas City Chiefs run first blitz period of training camp
Chiefs LB Drue Tranquill told reporters after practice that today was the team’s first blitz period of training camp. They don’t inform the offense of when team blitz periods are going to happen to try and catch them off guard.
Patrick Mahomes and Kenneth Walker were ready for it, though. With multiple screen passes to help offset the blitz.
“Well, it’s difficult, and when you’re a pressure team, teams do that to you,” Tranquill said of the screen passes. “So offenses, they know you like to bring overloads. They know you like to blitz in critical situations. The way you beat that is with screens. And so, I think we had our first blitz period today, and so they had a couple screens in there for us. So, they’re smart on that side of the ball too.”
The screen game seems to be an increased emphasis this year, between the addition of Kenneth Walker and the continuity on the O-Line.
A special guest at training camp practice
Chiefs Super Bowl LIV champion running back Damien Williams was spotted back with the team, coaching and helping with the running backs in some capacity. Arrowhead Pride’s Ron Kopp snagged a photo of him coaching up UDFA RB Jadyn Ott.
It’s likely that Williams is participating in camp through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. This has led to full-time roles on the Chiefs’ staff in years past, so definitely something to take note of moving forward.