The Kansas City Chiefs took another step toward football season on Friday as quarterbacks, rookies and select veterans reported to training camp at Missouri Western State University.
"It's great to be back," said Head Coach Andy Reid. "This puts [the rookies] right back when they were freshmen in college…The workload will be tough, but they'll push through it. These three days are great for rookies, just to give them an introduction. It gives them a nice little ramp up."
This "pre-camp" period will span three practices before the rest of the team arrives next week. It's an opportunity for the quarterbacks and rookies to lay a foundation for what the rest of training camp will look like, in addition to providing the select veterans in attendance – each of whom is returning from an injury – a chance at a head start.
Among the players who will take the field on Saturday morning will be quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who – despite suffering a torn ACL in late December – was cleared to fully practice as camp begins.
"He has clearance to practice and do all of the different periods that we have in this camp," Reid said. "We'll just take it day-by-day and see how he does."
The news represents a significant, and frankly remarkable, milestone for Mahomes, but while this is a major step forward in his return to action, the three-time Super Bowl MVP remains focused on the day-to-day.
"It was always the goal to be able to practice when we got to training camp," Mahomes said. "So, we've hit that next step, and now it's just about building – continuing to get better and better – so, when the regular season comes around, I can try to be available and ready to play."
In some other injury news, wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) is also cleared to participate in camp practices according to Coach Reid. One player likely to begin camp on the "Physically Unable to Perform List," or "PUP," is defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, who continues to recover from a torn ACL. Reid added, however, that Norman-Lott is making progress.
This weekend's "pre-camp" proceeds the first, full-team practice on Wednesday. That session is exclusive to Season Ticket Members, but Thursday's practice is the first of 16 sessions open to the general public. For more information on how to reserve tickets, most of which are free of charge, click here.
