Tag: absences

Injury, absence updates from latest Chiefs OTAs practice

A look at the injuries and absences from the final practice of #Chiefs OTAs open to the media.

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The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up their final organized team activity practice open to media members on Thursday. They’ll have just one more practice on Friday before breaking ahead of mandatory minicamp, which begins on Tuesday, June 13.

Andy Reid spoke to the media on Thursday, but he didn’t provide any official injury update. The team is not required to report injuries at this time in the offseason.

Reid did speak on first-round draft pick DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who is back in the mix after being limited due to injuries, including thumb surgery.

“Yeah, he is (back to full participation),” Reid said. “He had that thumb surgery and then had a hamstring too. He’s worked through all of that and he’s back in the swing (of things). He’s doing better every day, which is a good thing.”

Arrowhead Pride’s Pete Sweeney noted the following 10 players absent during Thursday’s practice:

  • Chris Jones
  • Tershawn Wharton
  • L’Jarius Sneed
  • Jaylen Watson
  • Leo Chenal
  • Blake Bell
  • Jody Fortson
  • Jerick McKinnon
  • Isiah Pacheco
  • Justyn Ross
  • Trey Smith

It’s important to note that OTAs are voluntary, but we do know that at least some of these players are dealing with injury (Wharton and Pacheco, for instance).

KSHB-TV’s Aaron Ladd reported that Trent McDuffie was present at practice, but again didn’t have a helmet and was spotted on the sidelines. Mike Edwards was also on the sideline without a helmet according to Sweeney. That’s consistent with last Thursday’s practice as well.

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Injury, absence updates from Chiefs OTAs on Thursday

10 players were absent from the #Chiefs’ sixth OTA practice on Thursday, with three others sidelined for one reason or another.

The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up their sixth organized team activity practice on Thursday. They’ll take another long weekend with members of last year’s Super Bowl team heading to the White House on Monday before returning to Kansas City for the final four days of OTAs from June 6-9.

Andy Reid didn’t speak to the media on Thursday, so no official updates regarding any injuries or absences in practice. Media members were present for practice on Thursday and Arrowhead Pride’s Pete Sweeney noted that the following 10 players were not seen at practice:

  • DT Chris Jones
  • CB L’Jarius Sneed
  • DT Tershawn Wharton
  • TE Blake Bell
  • TE Travis Kelce
  • RB Jerick McKinnon
  • RB Isiah Pacheco
  • LT Donovan Smith
  • WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
  • WR Kadarius Toney

Keep in mind, this portion of the offseason program is still entirely voluntary. It’s not uncommon to see 10 players out of practice this time of the year for various reasons. Jones has been keeping away with his contract situation up in the air. Wharton is working his way back from an ACL injury suffered in Week 5 of last year. Pacheco is still limited with his offseason surgeries, but RB coach Todd Pinkston confirmed that he’s been helping out in the team meetings while he has been sidelined.

It might be uncomfortable to see names like Toney, Kelce and McKinnon here, but it’s much more likely that they’re out of practice for personal reasons than an injury issue this time of the year. For veterans like Kelce and McKinnon, it’s not to uncommon to see them pick and choose with these types of practices.

It is notable that Sneed was fully absent from practice after being spotted on the sideline last week. Trent McDuffie remained sidelined along with international OT Jason Godrick and free agent S Mike Edwards, according to Sweeney.

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid provides injury, absence updates at OTAs

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke on a few minor injuries and absences at the first week of OTA practices.

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke to the media on Thursday for the first time since OTAs began. Reid provided some updates on injured players and also those who are simply absent from voluntary practices.

There were no significant injuries to report at this point of the offseason which is very good news, but there were a few absences related to minor injury and illness.

“We’ve got a few injuries or sicknesses,” Reid said. “A few muscle pull things, nothing that is big. It is the offseason, so I’ll just leave it at that.”

Reid would later elaborate that veteran receiver Mecole Hardman was one of the players who was dealing with a minor injury.

“Mecole (Hardman) he’s one of the ones,” Reid said. “He tweaked a hamstring early there, yesterday.”

There were some other absences not related to injuries. Orlando Brown Jr., the team’s franchise tag player, was absent as he continues to search for an agent. Once he lands an agent, Reid expects that things will progress on contract extension talks. The team has until July 15 to get a long-term deal done.

“He’s still working to get an agent,” Reid said of Brown. “He’s interviewing these different people. So once he gets that taken care of, we’ll be able to roll. I know he’s working out down in Florida. So he is getting his work in.”

Frank Clark and Chris Jones were also among the players absent from practice on Thursday.

One injured player was spotted back at practice — with TE Jody Fortson returning to action. He is coming off of a season-ending Achilles injury in 2021. There wasn’t a guarantee that Fortson would be back in action for Phase 3, but it’s a good sign that he is back out there working.

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