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Chiefs Provide an Update on DE BJ Thompson, Plus Friday Practice Notes

The Chiefs wrapped up the final week of voluntary OTA practices on Friday

The Kansas City Chiefs concluded their third and final week of voluntary "Organized Team Activities," or "OTAs," at the team facility on Friday as the back-to-back defending Super Bowl champions continued their preparation for the upcoming campaign.

Friday's practice, which was open to members of the media, took place following a scary situation on Thursday in which second-year defensive end BJ Thompson required hospitalization. Rick Burkholder, the Chiefs' Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance, provided an update on the situation following Friday's practice.

"He's alert, he's awake and he's coming through quite well," Burkholder said. "He's headed in the absolute right direction."

Burkholder explained that Thompson experienced a seizure and briefly went into cardiac arrest during a special teams meeting on Thursday morning. The combined efforts of the Chiefs' athletic training staff and medical team then stabilized Thompson before emergency personnel arrived on-site soon after.

"Our players, our security staff, our coaching staff and everybody involved was phenomenal in handling the crisis," Burkholder said.

That group was ready to handle an event such as this due in part to the emergency action plans that exist for this exact type of scenario.

"The NFL mandates that we do these emergency action plans. It's every team in the league – home, away and in your practice facility," Burkholder said. "We're mandated to practice [those plans] multiple times a year. Ironically, we practiced on Monday."

Thursday's football practice was cancelled due to the medical emergency, but after learning of Thompson's positive prognosis, the team returned to the field on Friday.

With that in mind, here are a handful of notes from Friday's OTA practice:

  • Linebacker Jack Cochrane tallied a pass-breakup during 7-on-7 drills. It was an impressive play by the third-year linebacker, whose outstretched arm broke up a quick pass over the middle of the field.
  • Second-year wide receiver Nikko Remigio had another strong practice with multiple noteworthy receptions throughout the session. His day included hauling in a sidearm pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes with a strong, full-extension grab during 7-on-7 drills. His most memorable reception of the practice, however, was on a deep pass during an 11-on-11 period. Remigio appeared to be twisted up on the play before making a remarkable adjustment to make the catch in the end zone. The grab was a testament to Remigio's ball-tracking ability, which was on full display during Friday's practice.
  • Veteran wide receiver Justin Watson also had a notable day with numerous catches throughout the practice, including an impressive grab deep down the field during 11-on-11 drills. Watson later added a toe-tap catch near the sideline, too.
  • Cornerback Joshua Williams stepped in front of a pass to record an interception in the red zone during 11-on-11 drills.
  • Quarterback Patrick Mahomes zipped what appeared to be a no-look pass to tight end Noah Gray during an 11-on-11 period.
  • Veteran wide receiver Montrell Washington made a great catch in the end zone despite good coverage during 11-on-11 drills.
  • Cornerback Nazeeh Johnson made a leaping pass-breakup in the end zone during 11-on-11 drills.
  • Linebacker Cam Jones recorded a pass-breakup during an 11-on-11 session.

Next up, the Chiefs will take the field for mandatory minicamp next week.

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