Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke with reporters on Monday via Zoom regarding his thoughts on returning players Kareem Hunt and JuJu Smith-Schuster making an impact and the upcoming trade deadline.
“They know how we operate. They know the offense. They’re comfortable with Kareem (Hunt), who had obviously been away for a while, but he was able to pick everything up quickly. He and Pat (Patrick Mahomes) are very good friends.” said Reid. “They stayed in touch throughout the years here. So, you know, he was welcomed back in. Yeah, you have that part of it, the comfort part on the chair you’re welcome back in and to get things rolled, and that opens up another avenue there for him psychologically.”
Reid also addressed what he and general manager Brett Veach would look for in a potential wide receiver trade at the deadline. Last year’s deal for Mecole Hardman and the preseason signing of Smith-Schuster were used as examples because of their familiarity and history with the franchise.
“I think that helped JuJu (Smith-Schuster) and his situation coming back in and jumping in. It helped Mecole (Hardman) come back, but I’m not telling the other guys can’t come in and help out. So that’s not, I don’t think that’s an issue.” said Reid. “It’s just going to take a little bit longer to figure it out and get on the same page with Pat (Patrick Mahomes), and all those things will be quite what you’ve seen with these other guys that have been in it, but that’s, and I’m not saying that we need to bring anybody else in.”
Reid has said in past press conferences he is fine with the current group of receivers, although rumors continue to spread about the team being active before the trade deadline.