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Training Camp Observations

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Five Observations from Sunday's Practice | Chiefs Training Camp 8/7

Here are some quick notes from Sunday’s practice

The Kansas City Chiefs took the field for the 10th official practice of training camp on Sunday in preparation for the upcoming season.

Here's a quick rundown of what took place during Sunday's practice, and for reference, every previous practice report can be accessed through the links below.

1. There were no additions to the injury report on Sunday.

Defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth (knee contusion) didn't participate in Sunday's practice, marking his second consecutive absence. Wide receiver Gary Jennings (concussion) and tight end Jody Fortson (quad) also didn't practice.

Wide receiver Daurice Fountain – who left Saturday's practice early with a finger injury – returned to the field on Sunday.

Cornerback Rashad Fenton and offensive tackle Lucas Niang remain on the "PUP" list and did not participate.

2. Safety Justin Reid can truly do it all.

In addition to being one of the top young safeties in the game, Reid is making a real case to be the Chiefs' emergency kicker. Prior to practice on Sunday, Reid was spotted kicking – and nailing – field goals by himself. There was no pass-rush, snap or holder – just Reid and the equipment needed to hold the football – but the veteran safety converted several kicks from increasing distances as the rest of the team made their way to the field.

This is nothing new for Reid, who once logged multiple kickoffs – two of which covered 60+ yards – during a preseason game with the Houston Texans. He also made a field goal during offseason practices earlier this summer.

The guy enjoys kicking, and as it turns out, he's pretty good at it.

3. The Chiefs worked on another game-specific situation during Sunday's practice.

The morning after working on the "two-minute" drill during Saturday's practice, the Chiefs worked on a similar situation during Sunday's session. This time, the offense possessed the ball at midfield and needed to get into field goal range with only 24 seconds remaining on the clock.

One standout from the period was wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who made a catch over the middle that conceivably could have set up the desired field goal attempt. Tight end Noah Gray, who put together a productive practice on Saturday, was also active during the period. Notably, the second-year tight end hauled in an impressive, physical catch over the middle to move the chains.

The veteran experience of quarterback Chad Henne was also on display during this portion of practice, as the 37-year-old signal caller got the second-team offense in proper position to spike the ball after finding Gray for the aforementioned gain downfield. Keep in mind, that portion of the drill – correctly lining up despite the adrenaline of the moment – is just as important as the catch that proceeded it. An illegal formation penalty, for example, would likely end any hopes of a game-winning field goal. Henne, with more than a decade of experience under his belt, made sure that everybody was exactly where they needed to be.

Hopefully, the Chiefs won't need Henne in a big situation this season, but as he demonstrated during the 2020-21 postseason, the veteran quarterback is poised in major moments when called upon.

Defensively, defensive tackle Chris Jones created pressure up the middle on one snap before defensive end George Karlaftis swiped at the ball, leading to a fumble. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap, meanwhile, tallied a would-be sack during the period as the veteran pass-rusher continued to see his practice time increase.

Elsewhere in practice, wide receiver Mecole Hardman continued what has been a really strong stretch of practices. Hardman made a tremendous grab in a contested situation during wide receiver vs. defensive back 1-on-1 drills early in practice before making a leaping reception deep down the field during 7-on-7 drills.

4. Offensive Line Coach Andy Heck continues to prepare for any and all situations.

A major quality of the Chiefs' offensive line, which ESPN ranked as the best in the NFL heading into this season, is their collective versatility. It's a critical – yet underrated – component of what makes this group so good, but that versatility takes commitment and hard work during camp.

For example, offensive lineman Andrew Wylie – who was a guard early in his career but lined up exclusively at right tackle last season – worked at guard during portions of Sunday's practice. He later returned to his spot at right tackle a bit later on, but that emphasis on remaining versatile will likely come in handy at some point during the 2022 season.

Another example of that versatility is offensive lineman Nick Allegretti, who has lined up at both center and guard during this camp. Additionally, veteran Austin Reiter – exclusively a center in his career – has also taken reps at guard this summer.

5. It was Family Fun Day at training camp.

Sunday marked one of the busiest and most popular mornings of camp as thousands of fans made the trip for "Family Fun Day." The morning included various family-friendly activities before culminating in a full-team autograph session following practice.

The big crowd also provided Carlos Dunlap, who signed with the Chiefs last week, with a chance to introduce himself to the fanbase. In fact, prior to practice getting underway, Dunlap was seen pumping up the crowd while showing his excitement to be on the squad. It was a fun moment and hopefully the first of many between Dunlap and Chiefs Kingdom.

The Chiefs will return to practice on Monday. For more information on training camp or for a schedule of practices, click here.

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