We don’t know exactly when it will take place, but the Kansas City Chiefs players are ready for training camp. They’ve spent the last few months participating in a virtual offseason program amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. While it isn’t similar to what they’d go through in OTAs and minicamps, it’s been helpful according to the coaching staff.
“It’s also been a great learning experience for our players and coaches,” Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday. “Not only have we learned all this technology, but we’ve also been able to incorporate it into teaching. So even though we don’t have the players on the field, we’re able to spend a couple hours with them and teach. We haven’t slowed down a lick. We’ve introduced new things to the guys, and we’ve gone back through and reviewed our scheme evals that the coaches spent a lot of time this offseason going through and being critical and trying to better ourselves. We’ve got plenty of room to improve, and we’re all willing to do that. That’s where we’re at.”
The players have also been doing their part to keep their bodies in shape. Just the other day we got a preview of Patrick Mahomes throwing and working out with two of his receivers. He feels like he’s been able to keep in shape and that he’ll be ready to go whenever they can get back on the field.
“I feel like I’ve been staying in pretty great shape,” Mahomes said. “Obviously we haven’t been at practice and doing those things, but as of right now, it looks like we’re on the right track to get there and be in training camp. I’ve been throwing with guys. I’ve been working out with guys and doing whatever I can to stay ready, knowing we’re missing these OTAs and minicamps. I’m excited to get back with those guys and get back working and being ready as soon as possible. The season will come quick.”
Despite playing in Super Bowl LIV roughly 23 weeks prior, Chiefs DB Tyrann Mathieu finds himself missing the game he loves.
“I miss football,” Mathieu said. “It’s been too long. I’m excited about it. I was actually telling someone the other day, I don’t think I ever checked out. I’m still in football mode and that’s a good thing for me. It doesn’t matter when we start, I’m gonna be really to roll. I’m excited about it. A lot of my teammates are excited about it even though this offseason has been a little bit different than most.”
Mathieu also feels prepared to get back to it at a moment’s notice. In fact, he believes that this team has improved throughout the virtual offseason program, even though they’ve been unable to practice.
“I think we’ve actually gotten a little bit better,” Mathieu continued. I think we got a little smarter, so hopefully, most guys have been using this time to make sure their body is right, make sure their mind is right, because we have been through a lot these last couple of months and to go to football season, it’s going to take great leadership. It’s going to take great accountability for everybody, all 32 teams. There’s going to be a lot on a lot of people’s minds, and I think us as a team, we have to be able to use that as our advantage. We have to be able to lock in and really be there for each other. I’m looking forward to it.”
So with the players keeping their minds and bodies prepared for action, when might training camp actually happen for Kansas City? The expected date is July 25, which is 47 days in advance of the Chiefs vs. Texans opener. That is what required in the new CBA, but the coronavirus pandemic could always cause obstacles. Reid is getting everyone prepared for any number of possibilities.
“They haven’t given us anything on the start date or not, other than what was the start date before, so rookies are in the 22nd [of July] or you can bring them in a bit earlier I guess,” Reid said. “But you mentioned this, we have this new CBA, so I’ve gone through with training camp and put together – along with Eric Bieniemy, Spags (Steve Spagnuolo) and (Dave) Toub – a regular training camp with flexibility if we have to go a different direction, we can do it. But we’re ready to roll.”
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