The Kansas City Chiefs took the field for the third official practice of training camp on Friday in preparation for the upcoming season.
Here's a quick rundown of what took place during Friday's practice, and for reference, every previous practice report can be accessed through the links below.
1. There were no new injuries to report following practice.
There were once again no additions to the injury report following Friday's practice. Only cornerback Rashad Fenton (shoulder), offensive tackle Lucas Niang (knee) and offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho (leg) – who all remain on the "Physically Unable to Perform" list – were held out of practice.
Additionally, Head Coach Andy Reid reported that newly-signed defensive end Carlos Dunlap will join the team on Wednesday.
2. Wide receiver Skyy Moore hauled in an impressive diving catch during team drills.
Moore recorded perhaps his best play of training camp on Friday, catching up to a pass during team drills before diving to secure the football. The catch took place despite good coverage from rookie cornerback Nazeeh Johnson, demonstrating Moore's ability to make contested grabs down the field.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked about Moore following practice.
"He's a tough player. He's smaller in terms of height, but he's thicker [than most] receivers, and you can see that [out here]. He's made a lot of tough, contested catches over the middle," Mahomes said. "He runs some great routes, has some great releasees and I think he can be a big part of our offense moving forward…He's getting more and more trust with the coaching staff and myself. That just comes with reps."
Some other offensive players who stood out during Friday's practice were tight end Jody Fortson, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and tight end Matt Bushman. Valdes-Scantling – who made an impressive touchdown grab on Thursday – found the end zone twice during Friday's 7-on-7 red zone period. His second score, which took place in the back of the end zone, showed off the 6-foot-4 receiver's length and athleticism as he plucked the ball from the sky.
Fortson and Bushman, meanwhile, each made difficult catches near the sideline during team drills.
3. Defensive end George Karlaftis swatted a pass at the line of scrimmage as part of a strong day.
Karlaftis got his hand on the football during team drills, swatting a pass from quarterback Chad Henne at the line of scrimmage. It was a continuation of what has been a strong start to Karlaftis' professional career.
Fellow defensive end Joshua Kaindoh also put together a solid practice on Friday, generating pressure on Henne during a team drill before ultimately forcing a fumble. Kaindoh has been impressive in camp so far as well.
4. Linebacker Willie Gay picked off a pass during 7-on-7 drills and brought it to the house.
Elsewhere on defense, Gay recorded an athletic interception over the middle of the field during 7-on-7 drills. The play, which took place in the red zone, ended with Gay celebrating a pick-six at the other end of the field.
Gay's ability to read the play, quickly move to the ball and finish with the interception was reminiscent of his interception against the New York Giants last season. It was an exciting reminder of what the young linebacker can do in coverage, and only a little bit later, Gay recorded a pass-breakup on the first play of team drills.
5. The Chiefs worked on their running game during Friday's practice.
The first padded practice isn't until Aug. 1, but the Chiefs were still able to work on their running game during Friday's practice. In fact, an entire segment of Friday's practice was dedicated to Kansas City's rushing attack. There's only so much that can take place in that area without pads, but the technique, vision and understanding of rushing lanes required by the tailback and offensive linemen to successfully run the ball were all areas of emphasis throughout the period. It's also beneficial for the defense.
Much of the offseason training program was dedicated to the passing game due to contact limitations, so the Chiefs' ability to work on their running game on Friday will provide for more efficient padded practices next week.
The Chiefs will return to practice on Saturday. For more information on training camp or for a schedule of practices, click here.
