Arrowhead Pride
The Kansas City Chiefs held practice sessions on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, featuring just the rookies, quarterbacks and select veterans before the entire team arrives in St. Joe at Missouri Western State University on Tuesday.
While we await the practices opening to public attendance next week, we’re relying on observations from local media on the scene. After two days, let’s summarize what we’ve learned so far about the Chiefs from camp:
On Friday, head coach Andy Reid revealed that starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes was fully cleared for practice to begin training camp.
On Saturday, in a video posted by Jesse Newell of The Athletic on X, Mahomes showed off his ability to get out from under center and into a handoff action while wearing the brace he is wearing for the time being. In his press conference, he said he was comfortable with it because he wore it in college; there are no plans for how long he will wear it.
According to Nick Jacobs of KSHB 41, Mahomes made a few touchdown-worthy throws towards the end zone on Saturday during a seven-on-seven period. This was his description of Mahomes’ day in his training camp notebook.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes continued to participate in all individual and 7-on-7 drills without any issues. He started off with a good back pylon throw to wide receiver Jimmy Holiday for a touchdown in 7-on-7.
Mahomes later followed that up with a spot on no-look pass in timing, placement and velocity to wide receiver Andrew Armstrong. He placed it in the end zone on a slant route in between two zone coverages. The pass was unfortunately dropped.
Based on the observations of ESPN’s Nate Taylor, Mahomes’ touchdown throw to Holiday featured rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane trailing in man coverage.
Speaking to reporters after Saturday’s practice, Delane said Mahomes is “as advertised. He’s a great quarterback.”
On Sunday, Mahomes continued to show off his movement out of under-center looks and throwing on the run in the beginning portion of practice.
The two-time MVP quarterback would go on to have a prolific day in team work. According to Harold Kuntz of FOX4, who tweeted out the video above, Mahomes finished the first seven-on-seven period of Sunday with five completions over five throws, including a “deep route caught by Omari Evans,” an undrafted rookie receiver.
After being selected with the No. 6 pick in the NFL Draft, cornerback Mansoor Delane has not been on the field as often as anyone would like during the Chiefs’ offseason practices. He injured his shoulder during OTAs and began wearing a yellow, non-contact uniform that he has worn to start practices this weekend.
As mentioned earlier, Delane was beat by a reserve receiver for a touchdown during seven-on-seven periods, aided by a Mahomes throw. If that negative play, or any other, figures into any anxiety Delane has about beginning...
