Chiefs believe routine is key to altitude adjustment in Mexico City

The Kansas City Chiefs are sticking to what they know when it comes to preparing for the high-altitude in Mexico City.

The Kansas City Chiefs will look to elevate their game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday.

They’ll be playing 7,200 feet above sea level at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a difference of nearly 6,300 feet from Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs typically have one high-elevation game per year in Denver, at an altitude of 5,280 feet, so players like quarterback Patrick Mahomes feel prepared to face any challenges that the elevation may present.

“I’m obviously very excited to play in Mexico with the stadium, the history, the people and fan base that’s down there,” Mahomes said. “It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere. The altitude to me is something that’s just part of it. I’m going to trust what Rick (Burkholder) and Coach (Andy) Reid and their plan and the process. I’ve never been affected, knock on wood, never been affected like in Denver or anything like that. I know it’s supposed to be twice as high or whatever, but I’m going to go out there and focus on the game and what I can in order to have success.”

The Chiefs have done their research and they think the disruption in routine is more harmful than any potential benefits of training at a higher elevation. Their opponents, the Los Angeles Chargers, are training in Colorado Springs at the Air Force Academy. Kansas City will instead focus on other types of key preparations that will help as they head into the game.

“Obviously you are going to try to stay hydrated and try to get the right amount of rest but I think that’s stuff you do as the season goes on every single year,” Mahomes said. “As the season goes on, you have to make sure your body is in the best condition because it’s a long season. We’re excited to get to go to a place like that and get to play.”

As long as the Chiefs take the right steps in preparation, they’re confident the altitude won’t present them any problems.

“I just stay hydrated, man,” rookie wide receiver Mecole Hardman said. “The best thing you can do anyways is to stay hydrated and just go out there and play.”

Hardman added that he didn’t feel like the altitude in Denver affected him when the Chiefs played there earlier this season. That’s a sentiment echoed by some of his defensive teammates as well, like second-year defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi.

“The altitude [in Mexico City] — I’m not really worried about that from what I’ve been seeing,” Nnadi said. “A lot of our coaches did a lot of research when it comes to altitude. When we were in Denver we weren’t really that affected by it, so I feel like we should be fine.”

One thing is for certain: The decision-makers put a lot of thought into the choice to stick to their normal routine, and everyone, including the players, believes that it will pay off in the long run.

First injury report for Chiefs vs. Chargers, Week 11

A look at the first injury report of the week for the Chiefs and Chargers.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers held practice on Thursday. Six players did not participate in practice for the Chargers and three players did not participate in practice for the Chiefs.

Check out the full injury report for the Chiefs down below:

Player Injury Participation*
QB Patrick Mahomes Knee FP
DT Derrick Nnadi Elbow FP
DT Chris Jones Groin FP
CB Kendall Fuller Thumb FP
LT Eric Fisher Groin FP
LT Cam Erving Ankle FP
RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Ankle FP
DE Frank Clark Neck FP
WR Sammy Watkins Groin FP
RT Mitchell Schwartz Knee LP
TE Blake Bell Ankle DNP
DE Emmanuel Ogbah Pectoral DNP
DE Alex Okafor Ankle DNP

* DNP = Did not participate | LP = Limited participation | FP = Full participation | NIR = Not injury related

The Chiefs started the week off with a helmet-free practice. That means today was an easy-going day akin to a walkthrough. Despite the light day of practice, the Chiefs listed left tackle Eric Fisher and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif as full participants in practice. It’d be ideal if both players were able to return this week after missing Week 10.

Mitchell Schwartz was the only player limited in practice to start the week. He was spotted wearing a brace during practice by Chiefs Digest reporter Matt Derrick. Schwartz will likely have an easy workload leading up to the game and end up starting barring any setbacks.

Three players didn’t participate in practice for the Chiefs. Alex Okafor and Blake Bell both sat out practice on Thursday. The team also confirmed that Emmanuel Ogbah had surgery on his injured pectoral muscle. He’s still on the roster so he needed to be listed on the injury report. Expect a move to send him to injured reserve before the week is over.

The only new injury that hadn’t yet been reported was a groin injury for Sammy Watkins. He was a full participant in practice, however, this makes his second soft tissue injury of the season. It’s certainly something to monitor moving forward.

Here’s the full injury report for the Chargers:

Player Injury Participation*
LB Denzel Perryman Knee FP
DT Justin Jones Shoulder FP
OG Dan Feeney Shoulder FP
S Roderic Teamer Groin LP
DT Cortez Broughton Illness DNP
WR Geremy Davis Hamstring DNP
OT Russel Okung Groin DNP
OT Sam Tevi Knee DNP
RB Justin Jackson Calf DNP
LC Cole Mazza Illness DNP

* DNP = Did not participate | LP = Limited participation | FP = Full participation | NIR = Not injury related

The Chargers start out the practice week missing both of their starting tackles in Russel Okung and Sam Tevi. That’s going to hurt if neither player is available against the Chiefs on Monday. Kansas City could face a Los Angeles offensive line that is missing four starters.

Two players who didn’t participate on Thursday are dealing with illness and have ample time to recover. Monitor limited participant Roderic Teamer, as he’s been a starter in place of injured safety Derwin James.

We’ll have more practice participation updates on Friday.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes feels as healthy as he’s been since Week 1

There have been no setbacks for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. Instead, he feels perhaps as healthy as he’s been all season long.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is feeling hunky-dory after making his return to action against the Tennesse Titans in Week 10. There were no setbacks for Mahomes following the game, which is a really good sign for his progress and ability to stay on the field for the remainder of the 2019 season.

“I feel really good, honestly,” Mahomes said. “Just going out there and being able to play the game — do the things that I’ve kind of grown accustomed to doing — scrambling and doing all that different type of stuff. Coming out healthy was definitely a positive sign and I’m glad that I can kind of keep moving forward with that.”

As for when the last time Mahomes felt this good from a physical standpoint, he reflected back to ahead of the Week 1 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. During that game, Mahomes suffered an ankle sprain, which he battled all season leading up to his kneecap dislocation suffered during Week 7 against the Denver Broncos.

“I would probably say [this is the best I’ve felt since] going into the Jacksonville game,” Mahomes said. “Just being able to not worry about the ankle or not have to worry about the knee. And just being able to go out there and play football the way that I’ve played it my whole career, so far.

Mahomes feels perhaps as healthy as he’s been all season long, he’s had adequate time to recover and rehab from both injuries. He recalled no specific plays on Sunday where Mahomes felt like he snapped back into the swing of things. Instead, when he first stepped on the field during pregame warmups, he knew he was ready to play.

“I don’t think so. I think the moment I got on that field and you kind of get your mind off of it,” Mahomes said. “You’re just able to focus on what you need to focus on in order to have success as a team. I think that was kind of the moment for me. Pregame and throughout the week you’re trying to push it and see what you can do and what you can’t do. I think when I got on that field I realized I was good to go and everything that I had done with the trainers and doctors had prepared me for the game.”

As the Chiefs head down to Mexico City to face the Chargers on Monday, it appears they’ll have a refreshed, focused and healthy QB leading the way.

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Clark Hunt ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if Chiefs send representatives to Colin Kaepernick’s workout

Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt spoke on Colin Kaepernick and his upcoming workout during his press conference on Wednesday.

Former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick is suddenly the talk of the football world again after the NFL arranged a private workout for him in Atlanta this weekend. Kaepernick has been away from the NFL for nearly three years in a contentious situation centered on his protests of police brutality and social injustice.

While the Kansas City Chiefs are set at the quarterback position, Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt knows general manager Brett Veach to be the diligent type. The two haven’t discussed sending a representative to the workout, but it wouldn’t come as a shock to Hunt if Veach did.

“I haven’t had a chance to speak with Brett about it yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he sent someone because Brett likes to turn over every stone,” Hunt said. “We are in a pretty good spot from a quarterback standpoint, with four on the roster right now. But Brett likes to be really thorough in his due diligence.”

Hunt was taken aback when he learned that the league would host a workout for Kaepernick. After all, it’s not commonplace for the league to get involved and provide players with workout opportunities beyond the annual scouting combine.

“I read the release from the league yesterday and I have not been a part of any discussions with the league about that happening,” Hunt said. “I was probably as surprised as anybody.”

While there have been some rumors connecting Kaepernick to the Chiefs over the past several years, Hunt was unaware of any serious discussions taking place. As for what Kaepernick might have left in the tank after being away from the game for nearly three years, Hunt expects that the workout will go a long way toward answering that question.

“It’s something that I really can’t speak to,” Hunt said. “I think every player in every situation is different. This workout will probably go part of the way towards answering that question, and that’s probably why he and his representatives wanted to do it.”

Kaepernick’s situation is about as different as they come and certainly has generated some intrigue across the league.

Patrick Mahomes is Chiefs’ nominee for 2019 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Patrick Mahomes was selected to represent the Kansas City Chiefs as their nominee for the sixth annual iteration of the award.

The Kansas City Chiefs have selected quarterback Patrick Mahomes to represent their franchise as a nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.

The NFL announced nominees from all 32 teams for the sixth annual award on Thursday. You can view the rest of the nominees in the official press release online. This award was created in 2014 to honor late Steelers founder Art Rooney. It seeks to recognize players throughout the NFL who exemplify the utmost sportsmanship and respect for the game on the field with their peers.

The process from here on out is simple: Eight finalists will be determined by a panel of former NFL players consisting of Warrick Dunn, Karl Mecklenburg, Leonard Wheeler and Curtis Martin. From those eight finalists, each NFL locker room will coordinate and submit a consensus vote of their choice for a winner. The finalists will also be listed for voting on the Pro Bowl ballots. The catch is that teams cannot vote for their own players, so this is truly representative of what the entire league thinks of each player.

The winner will be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony ahead of Super Bowl LIV. The previous winners are: Saints QB Drew Brees (2018), Panthers LB Luke Kuechly (2017), Colts RB Frank Gore (2016), Raiders CB Charles Woodson (2015) and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald (2014).

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Clark Hunt wants QB Patrick Mahomes to play his entire career with Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was a big topic of discussion during Clark Hunt’s press conference on Wednesday.

We’re still several months away from the Kansas City Chiefs being eligible to extend the contract of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

When Mahomes does sign an extension, it’s expected to be a record-setting deal that makes him one of the highest-paid QBs to ever play the game. During his Wednesday press briefing, Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt expressed his excitement about the opportunity to extend Mahomes and keep him in Kansas City for the length of his career.

“We are certainly excited about the opportunity to extend Patrick’s stay with the Chiefs and hope that it lasts his entire career,” Hunt said. “It’s probably a little bit premature to be talking about a new contract. Everyone knows that the first opportunity that we’ll have to re-sign him will come at the end of this season. But that is a decision that we will have to make with his representatives, whether this is the right time, or perhaps a year from now.”

Many expected the Chiefs to begin negotiating a contract as soon as the new league year begins in March. What we can gather from Hunt is that they’re prepared to wait for what they believe is the right time. Mahomes has previously mentioned that he wants to play for Kansas City for his entire career, and Hunt clearly shares that desire.

The things that Hunt has seen from Mahomes in 2019 are encouraging. There was no sophomore slump for Mahomes as the Chiefs’ starter. Instead, Hunt sees Mahomes making strides from his 2018 MVP campaign, both as a player and a leader.

“Before he got hurt, I thought that he picked up right where he left off – not only in his play but also in his leadership,” Hunt said. “He was probably in a better position, from a leadership standpoint, having had last year behind him, and really the team was galvanizing around him. I thought that he did a great job during training camp, all the way into early in the season. Getting hurt is tough for any professional athlete. It’s hard to be on the sideline. It’s hard particularly when you’re a leader and you’re not playing. I thought he handled that well. I think we all saw what he did on the sideline to encourage his teammates, including going out and congratulating Harrison (Butker) after he made that kick to win the game against Minnesota. He has done a fantastic job. I hate to say that we expect it at this point, but we really do. He is a fantastic young man and a really outstanding leader.”

One thing that Hunt has liked about Mahomes is how he’s continued to lead and support his teammates through his injury. It’s not always the easiest thing to surrender that control and sit on the bench. Speaking of injury, Hunt echoed Andy Reid and explained that the team left the decision on when Mahomes should return from his kneecap dislocation to the medical staff.

“It was an issue that we discussed thoroughly, but at the end of the day, we left it to the doctors and our training staff,” Hunt said of Mahomes’ injury. “We are lucky to have a great medical team. We wanted them to be comfortable with when he came back on the field. I think you guys spoke to him and he mentioned that he wanted to get right back out there, including during the Denver game. He felt that he could have played against Green Bay and certainly against Minnesota the following week. But our medical staff wanted to be more cautious with him. At the end of the day, I think that was the right decision.”

During the Week 10 game against the Tennessee Titans, CBS analyst Tony Romo made a Michael Jordan reference when talking about Mahomes’ jump-pass touchdown to Mecole Hardman. That led to Hunt receiving a question about whether Mahomes has a Jordan-esque impact on the Chiefs from a marketing and brand perspective. The Hunt family has been part owners of the Bulls franchise since its founding.

“It is certainly a goal for us to grow our fan base,” Hunt said. “When you have a successful team, that helps. And obviously, when you have a star player, that also helps. Our family was, and still is, with the Chicago Bulls, so we got to live through that experience with Michael Jordan and see it firsthand. That was a special time for the Bulls organization, and Michael did a lot to grow their brand not only nationally but on an international basis. I think certainly, to some degree, Patrick gives us that same opportunity.”

While growing the brand is well and good, fans want to see this team win its first Super Bowl in 50 years.. Hunt remains optimistic the Chiefs can reach Super Bowl LIV, but if not this year, he knows that Mahomes will give them a great chance to be competitive for a long time.

“I think it is no secret that in the National Football League, to win championships, you need somebody very special at the quarterback position,” Hunt said. “We have had some outstanding players here over the years, but I don’t think that we have had one like Patrick Mahomes in a very long time. Having him as the Chiefs quarterback really gives us an opportunity every year to be competitive and hopefully compete for an AFC championship, and ultimately a Super Bowl. So, I think it’s really an exercise in building the team around him. That’s sort of the mentality that you have every year. He is the centerpiece, and you build the team around him within the constraints of the salary cap.”

The ultimate goal of this franchise is to win championships, and Hunt recognizes the importance of the QB position in that goal. While an extension for Mahomes is a piece of the puzzle, building up the team around him will help them set the final pieces.

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Clark Hunt still optimistic regarding Chiefs’ chances of making Super Bowl LIV

Ownership still has Super Bowl aspirations despite some hiccups for the Kansas City Chiefs throughout this season.

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Clark Hunt is not yet ready to give up on the goal of reaching Super Bowl LIV.

In his opening statement during his Wednesday press conference, the Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO admitted that the loss to Titans stung. At the same time, he expressed that it isn’t the end of the line for this Chiefs team.

“The goals that we set out for ourselves in the beginning of the season are still in front of us,” Hunt explained. “Taking a step in the right direction starts with our game in Mexico this weekend against a division rival. We are looking forward to heading down to Mexico City and getting to play the Chargers in prime time on Monday night.”

Kansas City remains in prime position to win the AFC West. With four games remaining against division opponents and three of four occurring at Arrowhead Stadium, they’ll have a good chance to secure the division for the fourth consecutive season.

While many fans are still disappointed over the missed opportunity in Tennessee, Hunt is still optimistic.

“I believe that we have an outstanding football team with a great coaching staff,” Hunt said. “I think, as they continue to work better as we head towards hopefully a playoff opportunity, I think the team is going to continue to improve. I mentioned at the beginning of the season that one of the most important narratives this year was the improvement of the defense and how that took place during the season. I personally didn’t expect that we would start off with a finished product and I have been very encouraged by what I’ve seen. This past week notwithstanding, I do think that the defense is improving. With Patrick (Mahomes) back and now getting more of our offensive starters back, I think the offense can be at least as good as it was last year, if not better. You put that together and that gives you a chance to win a Super Bowl.”

Hunt isn’t exactly talking with blinders on here, especially when it comes to the defense. He came into the season expecting a product that wasn’t yet finished. It’s the perspective of a realist, given the personnel and scheme change. However, he’s been pleasantly surprised with what he’s seen thus far, apart from the performance against the Titans.

If the defense can get back to playing like they did against the Packers and Vikings while the offense also gets healthier, the team has a good chance to improve down the stretch.

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Chiefs release updated depth chart for Week 11

The latest depth chart reflecting all of the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent roster moves.

The Kansas City Chiefs released their depth chart for Week 11 of the 2019 regular season. This depth chart reflects some new changes to the roster that occurred following the Week 10 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Generally speaking, these depth charts give you an idea of where a player is in the pecking order. They’re considered unofficial because they’re assembled by the team’s PR staff and not the coaching staff. Some things may not accurately reflect what happens on game day because of that. However, the PR staff does have access to the teams’ closed practices and wouldn’t purposely mislead with the depth chart.

Let’s take a look at this depth chart and see what we can learn.

Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Offense

Pos. First Second Third Fourth
QB Patrick Mahomes Matt Moore Chad Henne
RB Damien Williams LeSean McCoy Darwin Thompson Darrel Williams
FB Anthony Sherman
WR Tyreek Hill Demarcus Robinson Byron Pringle
WR Sammy Watkins Mecole Hardman
TE Travis Kelce Blake Bell Deon Yelder
LT Eric Fisher Cameron Erving
LG Andrew Wylie Stefen Wisniewski
C Austin Reiter Nick Allegretti
RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Stefen Wisniewski
RT Mitchell Schwartz Jackson Barton

Observations:

  • Offensive lineman Martinas Rankin has been sent to the injured reserve list. This depth chart reflects that move.
  • In a corresponding transaction, the Chiefs added rookie offensive tackle Jackson Barton from the Colts’ practice squad. He’ll fill the role of swing tackle in Kansas City.
  • Unlike his predecessor, Barton will not fill in at left guard on the depth chart. Instead, Stefen Wisniewski will take on double duty as the reserve at both guard positions.

Clark Hunt confident in Estadio Azteca field conditions this season

There won’t be a cancellation related to the playing surface at Estadio Azteca this time around.

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Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt took to the podium this afternoon, and one of the first questions was about the field conditions at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Last season, the Chiefs were scheduled to play the Los Angeles Rams at Estadio Azteca, but the field was in poor condition amid rainy weather and a packed event schedule at the stadium. The NFL ultimately chose to move the game back to Los Angeles amid concerns over the turf.

This season, the league has taken measures to ensure that the International Series game between the Chiefs and Chargers will go off without a hitch. Hunt is sure that the field is in good condition ahead of Monday night.

“Our field staff has been in contact with the league, who has been in contact with the representatives in Mexico City who have been taking care of the field,” Hunt said. “It’s a completely different field and it’s in much better condition than it was last year.”

Last year’s complications led to the officials at Estadio Azteca installing a new, natural playing surface over the summer. The installation and preparation has been overseen by NFL officials as well as the experts from World Sports Turf.

Now, the Chiefs will get their opportunity to go down to Mexico City and expand their brand internationally without having to worry about a questionable playing surface putting their players at risk of injury. While Hunt didn’t lobby for the opportunity to have the Chiefs play in Mexico City this season, you won’t find anyone in Kansas City complaining about their AFC West rivals in Los Angeles giving up a home game.

“I was hopeful that we would have a chance to go to Mexico City,” Hunt said. “I think all of the international games are important to the league and they’re also important to the Chiefs from a branding standpoint. I frankly did not expect that we would be going to Mexico City so fast. It was not something that we lobbied the league for. When I looked at our schedule, I did not think that it would work out from a scheduling standpoint. I guess at the end of the day, the Chargers were willing to give up a home game down there, even though we’re a division team.”

These 4 Chiefs players deserve their first Pro Bowl appearance in 2020

The Kansas City Chiefs could have several first time Pro Bowl selections in 2020.

Fan voting for the 2020 Pro Bowl is already underway and concludes on Thursday, Dec. 12. You can vote for the best-of-the-best in the NFL as many times as you please over at NFL.com/ProBowlVote. Rosters will be revealed on Tuesday, Dec. 17 live on a special NFL Network show. The 2020 Pro Bowl will take place on Sunday, January 26 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida a week ahead of Super Bowl LIV.

There are plenty of Chiefs players deserving of being selected for the first Pro Bowl of their career. Some of these players have been vying for a Pro Bowl selection for several years now, while others look to be rising stars in the NFL game. Below you’ll find four Chiefs players that should be selected for the first time in 2020:

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

RT Mitchell Schwartz

There’s perhaps no member of the Chiefs more deserving of a trip to the Pro Bowl than veteran right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. He was deserving last season but only received the nod as an alternate. The injuries along the offensive line for Kansas City this season have only magnified how great Schwartz is.

Schwartz has yet to allow a sack on the season and has only had two penalties called on him. His dominance in pass protection isn’t his only asset, though, Schwartz is also a force in the ground game. Some of the best runs of the season in Kansas City have been sprung by Schwartz. Just look to the blocking he did on the 91-yard touchdown run from RB Damien Williams in Week 9.

Before suffering an injury in Week 10, Schwartz had a snap streak of 7,894, spanning the course of seven-and-a-half NFL seasons. He’d never missed a snap in his entire career. Schwartz returned to the game three plays later, proving once again that he’s indestructible and one of the most impressive offensive linemen in football today.