Kansas City Chiefs Day 10 Training Camp Takeaways: Justin Fields’ best day yet, things get chippy with multiple fights
The Kansas City Chiefs had a chippy practice on Saturday, with multiple fights between the offense and defense. Justin Fields saw his best day yet. Patrick Mahomes looks like Patrick Mahomes.
The Kansas City Chiefs held a second consecutive padded practice at training camp at Missouri Western State University on Saturday. The team will have a day off on Sunday, which typically leads to a physical and tough practice. It was a chippy one for K.C. on Saturday.
As for the injuries, RG Trey Smith (hip), WR Xavier Worthy (shoulder), LB Drue Tranquill (back), CB L’Jarius Sneed (knee), and DE Ashton Gillotte (hamstring) remained absent from practice.
LB Jeff Bassa (groin), CB Kristian Fulton (hip), and CB Mansoor Delane were all back in pads. However, Delane still wore the yellow non-contact jersey. Bassa, Fulton, WR Cyrus Allen (shin), and WR Rashee Rice (knee) were only partial participants in practice. That’s part of their injury ramp-up plan. DT Omarr Norman-Lott (knee) remains on the Active/PUP list.
What else did we learn during Day 10 of training camp practice in St. Joe?
Kansas City Chiefs backup QB Justin Fields has best day yet
Justin Fields has seen an up-and-down training camp as he adjusts to life in Kansas City. At times, he’s stared down targets. He’s thrown a few inexplicable interceptions, too. It seems that things really clicked for him during Saturday’s practice.
KSHB-TV’s Nick Jacobs had great play-by-play breakdowns during practice on Saturday. He noted that during 1-on-1 drills, Fields had a really nice front pylon touchdown throw to Jason Brownlee. During team drills, Fields stood out with a timing throw to UDFA WR Xavier Loyd. There was also a moment where Fields’ in-pocket awareness stood out.
The long drive period later in practice was a tough one for all involved, but Fields kept the offense on-schedule and poised. It was certainly an improvement from the first long-drive drill from the second-team offense during camp.
Tempers flare between DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah and LG Kingsley Suamataia
Fighting is something that Chiefs HC Andy Reid doesn’t tolerate during practice time. Saturday’s practice marked the first time this year that punches were thrown during training camp.
The skirmish occurred after a physical repetition between LG Kingsley Suamataia and DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Suamataia seems to have pulled off Anudike-Uzomah’s helmet, thrown a punch, and undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson ended up restraining FAU. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid had to get involved before Chiefs D-Line coach Joe Cullen yanked Anudike-Uzomah from the field.
Our friend Farzin Vousoughian captured video at practice.
That wasn’t the only fight between offense and defense, though.
Ken Walker and Alohi Gilman get into it during Andy Reid’s long-drive period
Andy Reid’s long-drive period is supposed to test your physical and mental fortitude. It definitely tested a pair of newcomers for Kansas City on Saturday.
S Alohi Gilman shoved RB Kenneth Walker out of bounds after a play was seemingly over. Walker didn’t take it too kindly, and he definitely didn’t like how Gilman responded after the two butted heads. As Gilman turned to walk away, Walker threw the ball as a distraction and tackled Gilman to the ground with a near-perfect form tackle.
Walker was escorted off the field and told to cool off for a few plays before returning. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes spoke about the “scuffles” in practice with media members afterward.
“Yeah, six straight days of just going against the same guys,” Mahomes said. “And just being competitive, I think that’s what’s been great about this campus. It’s super competitive on both sides, and so a little scuffles here and there, but nothing crazy. And as long as we keep it like that and keep competing, that’s where you get the best football team you can get.”
Some Mahomesian plays for Kansas City Chiefs WR Andrew Armstrong, Jalen Royals
In case you were wondering, Mahomes is still Mahomes. He gave reporters an update on his knee following practice.
“It feels great, you know, just pushing every single day,” Mahomes said after practice. “You know, trying to stack days together. I feel like when you’re tired, sometimes you don’t even think about it, so I’m trying to protect him, but at the same time, I’m trying to push it and get myself ready to go for the season.”
If you don’t want to take his word for it, Mahomes still being himself is apparent through his play in practice. Andrew Armstrong was the early beneficiary in practice, with Mahomes escaping to his right and throwing to an open Armstrong across the middle of the field. It was a nice positive gain for the offense to get the juices flowing.
During the long drive period, Mahomes and Jalen Royals combined for perhaps the longest play of the 16-play drive. Mahomes rolled to the left on a bootleg and timed the throw perfectly on the run to Royals, who got both feet in bounds for a 45-yard gain. They only moved the ball forward about five yards on the play, which is typical of the long drive drill. You make incremental gains and see if you can outlast the defense on the drive. It went on for 16 plays.
The one thing that might still need a bit of work is the scrambling. Mahomes says he doesn’t quite feel like he has that same “go” yet. That was apparent in yesterday’s scramble drill against Peter Woods.
“I was more mad at myself that I didn’t get the first down because I felt like if I really had that go, I would have been able to beat Peter Woods,” Mahomes said. “Because he’s kind of fast. So, I was more mad at myself. If I’m not going to be able to scramble and get the first down. I’ve got to throw the ball and give someone else another chance.”
