The Kansas City Chiefs took the field for the ninth practice of training camp on Wednesday morning as the 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 can be accessed below.
1. The Chiefs were back in pads on Wednesday.
The meticulous planning that forms the training camp schedule continued on Wednesday as the players took the field in pads following a morning off on Tuesday.
The Chiefs – who began with a four-day, non-padded ramp up to kick camp off – completed a stretch of three-straight padded practices that progressively increased in duration from Friday to Sunday. This marked the first time that the players took the field in pads since last season ended. The players then took part in a lighter, "10-10-10" practice on Monday that emphasized the mental aspects of the game before enjoying a morning off from practice on Tuesday.
They were then back at it in pads on Wednesday as the team continues to gradually ease back into full-blown football activities. This practice – which clocked in at over two hours – was another checkpoint in that process.
"All in all, good work today," said Head Coach Andy Reid. "I thought the guys practiced hard, and they challenged each other. It's always tough coming from a day off, but the tempo was great. Again, they caught a break with the weather – [it's] nice and cool out here. I was impressed with how they challenged each other."
2. Cornerback Jaylen Watson recorded an impressive pass-breakup during a 7-on-7 period.
Watson made one of the best plays of the morning when he tallied a pass-breakup while covering a seam route up the middle of the field during a 7-on-7 portion of practice. Watson – who stuck with the route the entire way – punched the football out from the intended target at the catch point, winning the play.
It was yet another positive moment for the Chiefs' young secondary, which has been one of the stories of camp thus far.
3. Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton took the field for the first time this summer.
Wharton was activated off the "Physically Unable to Perform" (PUP) list on Wednesday, paving the way for his first practice with the team since suffering a torn ACL in Week 5 of last season.
The veteran defensive tackle was present for the offseason training program and the first two weeks of training camp, but his injury prevented any on-field work. Fortunately, it appears that Wharton is now ready to ease back into the fold.
"[Wharton] has that great quickness and strength – [he has a] great combination there – [and he's a] good pass rusher," Reid said. "He's a strong player who has experience, so adding him into the mix is a good thing – that's a positive thing for us. We just have to take it slow as we go with him and make sure he's OK. [We'll] ramp him up there."
Wharton was limited on Wednesday, but his return to the field is certainly a positive step in the right direction. As for a timeline on when Wharton may be able to fully partake in all football activities, Reid reiterated that the Chiefs are going to be cautious.
"We'll see. We'll try to keep open communication with him and just see how it goes day-by-day," Reid said. "That's the way to handle these type of things – serious injuries."
4. We livestreamed a portion of Wednesday's practice.
Our second livestream of camp – and our first uninterrupted by the weather – took place on Wednesday morning, providing fans with an opportunity to watch portions of training camp from anywhere in the world.
Full, 11-on-11 footage is off-limits because it could reveal play designs to opponents, but this exclusive look included a 7-on-7 period, some 1-on-1 drills and two player interviews.
Our next stream will go live on Friday morning.
5. Here's a look at Wednesday's injury report.
The players who did not participate in Wednesday's practice due to injury were defensive end Mike Danna (calf), cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (sore knee), tight end Jody Fortson (shoulder) and wide receiver Kadarius Toney (knee).
Additionally, Coach Reid revealed that punter Tommy Townsend has a sprained ankle, but he was still able to participate in Wednesday's practice. Reid added that Townsend's injury is "not too bad."
Reid also explained that Sneed's absence was mainly a precautionary measure.
"His knee is sore. [It has] a little bit of inflammation in it," Reid said. "We're just going to keep that calmed down as we go."
The Chiefs will take the field for the 10th practice of training camp on Thursday morning. For a look at the training camp schedule or for more information on how to reserve tickets, click here.
