The Kansas City Chiefs took the field for the ninth practice of training camp on Wednesday morning as the back-to-back defending Super Bowl champions continued their preparation for the upcoming season.
Here's a quick rundown of what took place during Wednesday's practice, and for reference, all previous practice reports are available below:
1. We live-streamed portions of Wednesday's practice.
We went live from camp on Wednesday for the third time this summer. The broadcast included shots from practice in addition to some commentary along the way.
We're tentatively set to air our final Training Camp Live segment on August 5.
2. The Chiefs battled through some intense heat on Wednesday.
Wednesday marked one of the hottest days of the summer thus far, but despite the elements, the Chiefs still managed to record a productive practice. Following the session, Head Coach Andy Reid explained how the Chiefs' athletic training staff handled the extreme heat.
"We do a lot beforehand trying to make sure that the guys are hydrated," Reid said. "We don't have very many of the hydration issues, which is a positive. Our athletic trainers do a nice job of that, and then during practice, we [take] water breaks. They'll go a certain number of plays, and then you'll see [our staff] run water in."
That process was effective on Wednesday as the Chiefs logged multiple 11-on-11 segments, a 7-on-7 period, a special teams segment, a 9-on-7 period and a 1-on-1 segment over the course of two and a half hours.
The 1-on-1 period, which featured the cornerbacks and wide receivers competing against one another, included a strong performance by wide receiver Nikko Remigio, who hauled in multiple catches during the session.
Remigio, who made a push to make the roster last summer before suffering a season-ending injury, has been one of the early standouts of camp.
"He's getting better every rep he gets," Reid said. "That's a positive thing for us."
Another offensive player who elicited a roar from the crowd on Wednesday was wide receiver Montrell Washington, who went up to haul in a tremendous catch despite tight coverage during 7-on-7 drills.
3. The practice included an end-of-game, final drive scenario.
The Chiefs practice various scenarios every day, and on Wednesday, the fans in attendance were treated to a fun one. The period challenged the offense, which began at its own 25-yard line, with the task of getting into field goal range despite only one minute and 30 seconds remaining on the clock.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and company have become synonymous with those clutch situations over the years, but that success has its roots in practice, and Wednesday's drill was a good example of that preparation.
An offensive player who stood out during the segment was wide receiver Rashee Rice, who caught a pass for a sizable gain on the first play of the period. Safety Chamarri Conner also tallied a noteworthy moment during the session with a forced fumble.
Later in the practice, the Chiefs engaged in another "long drive drill," which – as the name suggests – pits the offense and defense against one another for a series of consecutive plays.
"We just do different situations with it, and the [first team] gets quite a few reps with it," Reid said. "It's playing the game, that's really what it is."
4. A handful of defensive players stood out on Wednesday.
Cornerback Trent McDuffie made a great play early in Wednesday's practice with a pass-breakup during 1-on-1 drills. The receiver appeared to make the catch until McDuffie reached in and jarred the ball loose.
Another defensive player who made a noteworthy play on Wednesday was cornerback Kelvin Joseph, who recorded an interception during 7-on-7 drills. Joseph, a second-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2021, has put together a strong camp thus far.
Safety Tyree Gillespie, a Mizzou alum, also made a significant play with a diving pass-breakup on a short route during 11-on-11 drills.
5. Here's a look at Wednesday's injury report.
The Chiefs were without cornerback Nazeeh Johnson (knee/hamstring) and wide receiver Justin Watson (foot) for Wednesday's practice. Additionally, tight end Izaiah Gathings (hamstring), wide receiver Kadarius Toney (ankle), offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick (ankle), offensive lineman McKade Mettauer (ankle) and linebacker Nick Bolton (elbow) left early.
In some good news, cornerback Jaylen Watson was activated from the "PUP," or "Physically Unable to Perform," list and participated in Wednesday's practice.
As for the players who have yet to practice in St. Joseph, safety Justin Reid (quad) and defensive end BJ Thompson (who suffered a medical emergency last month) remain on the "Non-Football Injury/Illness" list.
Defensive end Charles Omenihu and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi are still on the "PUP" list and also didn't participate on Wednesday.
Next up, the Chiefs will take the field on Thursday for the 10th practice of training camp. The practice will be open to the general public, but even though most days are free to attend, tickets must be reserved online ahead of time.
For a look at the training camp schedule or for more information on how to reserve tickets, click here.
