Head Coach Andy Reid opened training camp with a series of comments that included his thoughts on the left tackle battle, the current injuries, and other notable observations as players arrived on Sunday for their first day of summer fun.
Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid has been through several training camps, and if there’s a common theme among his drills during the annual summer retreat, it’s that they are both challenging and demanding for the coaches and players.
However, it’s a necessity.
As players arrived on Sunday, they joined the rest of their teammates in the prelude to Tuesday’s first workout in St. Joseph. Reid did offer a few updates on the injured players. Right Tackle Jawaan Taylor, who reportedly had knee surgery in the offseason, and free agent Cornerback. Kristen Fulton would start camp on the PUP list.
The players he didn’t include on that loss include first-round pick, Josh Simmons, nd wide receiver Rashee Rice. Both will be ready at the onset of camp, and both will be closely monitored to ensure they are at full speed for camp.
“I’ve been in this with you (laughter), so you know. We’ve been around awhile, so it’s way different than when we first got into it, but within the rules, you’re always player safety (conscious). That is number one on this thing, so you don’t want to put those guys in a bind, ” Reid said.
“But at the same time, it is a tough sport. It’s tough. So, there is a point where you gotta reach down and you got to be able to push yourself through some things and these camps still do that, it’s just at a different level then maybe what it was when I first became a head coach.”
Reid also made other comments about the new contracts for Trey Smith and George Karlaftis.
On Trey Smith:
“Yeah, how great is that? How great is that man? Sixth round pick. Came in with a lung situation and the blood clots and was able to work through that and it’s a great thing they were able to work through that, just for his (Trey Smith) overall health, football or no football; but to be able to come in and play at the level that he’s played at and that toughness that he brings with it. He’s an aggressive personality on the field. Teddy bear off the field, aggressive personality on the field, man. He brings it every game.”
On George Karlaftis:
“That’s a great thing. And he’s a heck of a player, and he’s done a great job here, and he’s profited from that. Our team also profits from him being around, so it’s a win-win there. He is a relentless player, I mean that’s what you get with George (Karlaftis). He’s smart relentless. You can trust and know that he is reliable, so you can trust that he is going to be there and do the right things and go 100 miles an hour doing them. Very well respected that way.”
On Josh Simmons:
“Listen, he (Josh Simmons) stayed up here this whole break, he has been here and working his tail off, and so it looks like – and the way he finished phase three – but it looks like he is ready to go. We’ll keep an eye on him and see where he is at but his conditioning was good when he was out there, and he seems to be a worker so we’ll just have to see. He’s never been through one of these. So we gotta see how it goes.”
Today, the coaches and players will hold team meetings, take physicals, and ensure they are on the same page as the team hits the practice field for the first time on Tuesday.
Stay tuned to ChiefsBlitz.com for all the Chiefs Training Camp News.
