Kansas City Chiefs Day 12 Training Camp Takeaways: Jaden Hicks trending up, Rashee Rice speaks for first time since jail
The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped Day 12 of training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 11. There were plenty of important takeaways from the practice session and post-practice media availability.
The Kansas City Chiefs held training camp practice at Missouri Western State University on Tuesday. Only two more practice sessions to go before preseason Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, Aug. 15. The team already released its first depth chart of the preseason.
DT Omarr Norman-Lott (knee), RG Trey Smith (hip), LB Drue Tranquill (back), and CB L’Jarius Sneed (knee) remained absent from practice on Tuesday. CB Mansoor Delane (shoulder) still wore the yellow non-contact jersey, but we now have an official timeline for full injury clearance.
Cyrus Allen (shin) appeared to be a full participant in practice once again. Rashee Rice (knee) and Xavier Worthy (shoulder) still seem to be in some sort of load management ramp-up. The same goes for Ashton Gillotte (hamstring) and Kristian Fulton (hip).
According to Chiefs Digest’s Matt Derrick, second-year WR Jimmy Holiday left practice early after he made a diving catch out of bounds in team drills. Holiday left in the front seat of a cart up the hill. It was near the end of practice, with only a special teams period left. For his sake, hopefully it’s something minor, as the preseason is going to be his chance to make a real case for himself.
What else did we learn during Day 12 of training camp practice in St. Joe?
Jaden Hicks trending upward with consecutive good practices
Hicks has mostly been relegated to work on the second-team defense behind Alohi Gilman, Chamarri Conner, and Chris Roland-Wallace. Hicks, of course, had a forgettable 2025 campaign. It has been a bit disappointing to see after what felt like a really strong rookie season in 2024.
Steve Spagnuolo has mentioned finding one spot for him to really learn and thrive at. That seems like it’s beginning to happen, at least based on Monday and Tuesday practice sessions. Chiefs team reporter Matt McMullen sent a post on X: “Jaden Hicks is off to another strong start this morning with multiple pass-breakups during 11-on-11.”
The 2024 NFL Draft pick will need to keep stacking good days of practice, but he’s trending in the right direction.
Rashee Rice speaks for the first time this offseason
Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice spoke to reporters for the first time since he was jailed for 30 days following a probation violation. What’s apparent is that he wants to leave the past behind him, focus on football, and move forward.
“I’m 100% locked in on what’s going on now with the team, ready to go out there and dominate,” Rice said. “I got a good brotherhood behind me. A learning experience, a reality check, and don’t focus on the past. Focus on what’s going on now.”
Not only did Rice feel that his physical rehabilitation went well, but he’s changed some things off the field to ensure he has a better support system.
“I’m doing good mentally,” Rice said. “I got the right group of guys around me. Just good agents, good coaches. Small circle on anybody else outside that’s not a part of the football team. Just keeping my head straight and also keeping me in a positive attitude.”
Rice said that he leaned on Patrick Mahomes often during the offseason as the two rehabbed together at the team facility. Speaking on what he wants to improve in 2026, Rice is focused on being a better player when the ball isn’t in his hands. He says that focusing on the details and the need for “one more block” to spring guys like Kenneth Walker, Cyrus Allen, and Tyquan Thornton motivate him.
“Honestly, I would want to improve the most on certain plays that I know specifically aren’t coming to me,” Rice said. “Just because it’s a full concept and everybody’s going to eat, and everybody’s got to get the ball.”
Asked about the contract year, Rice says it is motivation, but that his mind is elsewhere right now.
“I mean, it’s motivating,” Rice said. “Honestly, just being able to be back on the field with my brothers right now is motivating. So that’s in the future right now. Right now, I’m just focused on what’s going on right now, and that’s getting better for the team.”
Felix Anudike-Uzomah legitimately looks like a contributor
Anudike-Uzomah hasn’t done much thus far in his NFL career, but he continues to look like a legitimate contributor at training camp. He flashed a few times in OL/DL 1-on-1 drills, beating the players that he should beat as a former first-round pick. Arrowhead Pride’s Ron Kopp Jr. captured FAU wins both around the edge and on the inside.
That’s a positive sign for a player who should have an outsized role as a rotational rusher and in Steve Spagnuolo’s NASCAR packages.
“I’m learning every day, trying to get better,” Anudike-Uzomah told reporters earlier in camp. “It’s going pretty good, honestly, still a couple things that I need to work on, a couple technique areas I need to work on and stuff like that to get better. But good thing it’s camp. So, every day at a time, I can get one percent better.”
Cyrus Allen continues to stand out
At this point, the Cyrus Allen noise is probably getting old for fans. They’ve been burnt many times before on the training camp hype. It just seems like every day he is making strides. KC Star reporter Pete Sweeney noted that Allen had back-to-back receptions on the first pair of plays from Mahomes during the 11-on-11 blitz period. Both were impressive catches near the sideline, including a back shoulder grab where he was isolated 1-on-1.
Allen also showed off some toughness during this practice. He got tangled up with Kristian Fulton on a play, seemingly banging his bruised shin. Allen was seen limping to the sidelines, was briefly over by the medical tent, but ultimately returned to the field. He was targeted on back-to-back reps when he came back in.
Jadon Canady moving up the Kansas City Chiefs’ depth chart at nickel
The nickel cornerback battle remains one of the most intriguing for Kansas City. Right now, Chris Roland-Wallace has a stranglehold on the starting spot. That might change when L’Jarius Sneed is ready to contribute regularly. That said, a couple of depth pieces recently flipped spots in practice.
The Athletic’s Jesse Newell shared an observation about rookie CB Jadon Canady, who has strung together several good practice sessions. He noted that Canady is now taking repetitions ahead of Kader Kohou at nickel corner. That’s not a great sign for Kohou, who is trying to bounce back from a knee injury. It is a positive sign for the rookie Canady, though. He’s clearly earning more trust from the coaching staff.
Eric Bieniemy gives fans an update on wife, Mia Bieniemy
Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy was back for a second consecutive practice session. As he walked down the hill to practice, he received some kind shouts from fans wishing his family well after his wife, Mia, was shot. He told fans that Mia is “doing great.”
Sometimes it’s bigger than just football.
