By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Thursday marked the final Chiefs training camp practice before the first preseason game at Chicago this Saturday.
Thursday was the 13th camp practice, lasting for just over two hours, as the team practiced in full pads on a warm, but not unbearable morning.
Head coach Andy Reid confirmed that each quarterback will play one quarter. So, it's safe to assume most of the starters won't play much, if at all, after the first quarter.
Reid says preseason serves several purposes - mainly getting the starters reacclimated and letting newer players prove their worth.
"There's a balance there with letting the ones (starters) get a little bit of work," Reid said. "The guys that are going to play in the game, and still have the competition at certain positions, and most of all, get the young guys a look."
Patrick Mahomes has gone through an NFL preseason five times already. He says that first hit you take from an opponent usually gets you in the right mindset.
"I like to get hit like one time," Mahomes said. "Once you get hit one time, you kind of see what it's like to get hit again as a quarterback. I feel like after that, you're good to go. It'll be good to get in there with the new group of receivers we have, all of the running backs and show how we do it in the game."
Running backs
It's becoming more of a possibility that Ronald Jones may not make the 53-man roster.
Jones took reps with the fourth-team offense Thursday, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco rotating in on first-team.
Jones, a fifth-year pro signed in free agency by the Chiefs in March, had over 2,800 all-purpose yards and 19 total touchdowns in four seasons at Tampa Bay. So, it's a little hard to believe he'll be on the outside looking in.
As for Pacheco, a rookie and seventh-round draft pick out of Rutgers, Mahomes, when asked about Pacheco specifically, says he's impressed with what Pacheco has brought to the table.
"(Pacheco) has all of the physical tools," Mahomes said. "He's been mentally great at practice. So, it'll be exciting to see him in the game where you get to go out there and make stuff happen."
Justin Reid - not the starting kicker
While Reid is expected to make a significant impact as a starting safety this season, many have wondered about his starting kicking abilities after he drilled a 65-yard field goal at the end of Sunday's practice.
He then shanked one bad from about 52 yards out on Tuesday. Reid, mostly jokingly clarified, that Harrison Butker is still the go-to place kicker.
"I know there's a lot of chatter or whatever about kicker one," Reid said. "Harrison is obviously kicker one, guys. Put that to bed right now. But, if he ever wants a play off, and wants to take a break, I got his back."
Injury update
Receivers Jody Forston and Daurice Fountain, along with defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth, were all back to work Thursday. Forston had been out since July 30.
Receiver Omar Bayless left practice early with a lower back issue. Frank Clark was absent Thursday due to illness. Zayne Anderson (shoulder), Lucas Niang (knee) and Gary Jennings (concussion) also didn't practice.
The Chiefs will be back in St. Joseph for practice Monday with camp wrapping up next Thursday.
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