Kansas City Chiefs training camp started with a gut punch Wednesday when wide receiver Rashee Rice and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed dipped out of practice just before the 7-on-7 drills were set to kick off. For any fan who’s ever chewed their nails over an injury update, seeing two key players walk off the field and out of public view? That’s the kind of moment that makes you hold your breath.
The Mid-Practice Disappearing Act and What It Actually Means
Thankfully, the initial scare seemed to be just that: a scare. Crucially, when they left the field, both Rice and Sneed were spotted walking back up the hill and out of the public eye. Sneed, in his second stint with the Chiefs, has notoriously dealt with knee issues throughout his career. Rice, on the other hand, missed most of Kansas City’s offseason program due to a cleanup procedure on his previously injured knee, not to mention a brief incarceration in Dallas. After practice, head coach Andy Reid stepped in to clear the air, confirming the plan was always for both players to partially participate and then hit the training staff for rehab. Reid kept it positive, explaining, “Rashee and L’Jarius, we had planned to get some work in, and then they went up mid-practice and got some rehab done. It was all positive. It was planned. We’ll gradually ramp them up as we go.” Expect to see this routine repeat in the early part of camp.
Mahomes Is Back, But Other Chiefs Are Already On IR
But hold up, the real headline, the one everyone was truly sweating, was about star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Returning from a major knee injury in December, the question was how much he’d be able to do. Reid delivered the best news possible: “Pat did everything, so that’s a positive there.” That’s a massive sigh of relief for Chiefs fans!
On other injury fronts, rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane was seen in a yellow non-contact jersey, even though he was medically cleared from an offseason shoulder injury upon arriving at camp. Reid confirmed Delane worked but said, “just no contact with him.” Second-year defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott remains on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) list, still recovering from an ACL tear last season and ineligible for practice. He was spotted working with trainers off to the side, though, making his way back. However, not all news was good news. Defensive end Ethan Downs and rookie tight end John Michael Gyllenborg have both been moved to season-ending injured-reserve. Downs reportedly tore his ACL in the team’s first rookie practice, while Gyllenborg was placed on PUP Saturday with a knee sprain that’s still under evaluation.
So, while the Chiefs seem to have dodged a bullet with Rice and Sneed’s planned rehab, and Mahomes looks ready to roll, the early camp already has some players heading to the sidelines for the entire season. It’s a long road through camp, and every day brings new questions and answers as they gear up for the season opener.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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