The Chiefs may have lost 30-12 to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night, but on Monday at practice, members of the team coaching staff maintained that there was plenty to be positive about.
"You look at the film and I know coach (Reid) has said it [and] I'm going to say it again. It's close. It looks good," Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said. "The Carolina game [and] the other night against Minnesota, we had some really nice drives with that first unit."
Adding to that optimistic feeling amongst the Chiefs was a return of key team staples. After missing the game against the Vikings, running back Jamaal Charles returned to practice and is expected to take reps the rest of the week. Whether or not he will play against Green Bay on Thursday is for the moment undecided.
On the defensive side of the ball, safety Eric Berry returned to the field and looked to be in solid shape.
With Berry out for all three preseason games, undrafted rookie free agent Daniel Sorensen has had an opportunity to garner reps with the first team in his spot, something defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said Monday he has made the most of.
"He's come up and done a really nice job," Sutton said of the Sorensen. "He has been a very physical player in the box."
View photos from today's practice.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs practice prior to their game thursday at Green Bay at the outdoor training facility on a very hot afternoon.
When asked whether Sorensen is either more physically or mentally tough, Sutton continued in his praise.
"I think both. One of the things I like about Daniel is that he has the ability to improve," Sutton said. "In other words, he takes coaching. He takes the plays that we might not have played the way we wanted to and he can learn from them and move on."
Even in with Berry's return, Sorensen continued to look strong on Monday, grabbing an interception during red zone work.
As for special teams, coordinator Dave Toub was generally happy about what he saw against Minnesota.
"I thought it was solid all the way up to one play," Toub said. "We had one bad play and unfortunately on special teams, a lot of times you don't get a lot of plays and if you had one bad one it kind of stands out."
Looking ahead to Thursday's game in Green Bay, Toub reiterated that the kicking competition is still very much alive and that Cairo Santos and Ryan Succop will both get their chances on Thursday.
In all aspects of the game, the Chiefs took the field Monday looking ahead, not backward, and seemed poised to get back on the right track as they head into the regular season.
Practice Bits
- DL Mike DeVito, who has been dealing with a broken finger and didn't play against Minnesota, also rejoined the team at practice Monday.
- WR Dwayne Bowe, DE Mike Catapano, T Eric Fisher, WR Junior Hemingway and CB Damond Smith all missed practice.
