Watch this video of #Chiefs veterans Charles Omenihu, Isiah Pacheco, and JuJu Smith-Schuster making their return to practice on Wednesday.
Footage has surfaced from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Wednesday practice session that showed Charles Omenihu, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Isiah Pacheco getting reps in during the team’s drills.
These three Chiefs have had to miss games due to brutal injuries but will look to make their comebacks over the next few weeks.
Omenihu tore his ACL in last season’s AFC Championship Game, which kept him off the field through the first half of the regular season.
Smith-Schuster has had to miss time since Kansas City’s Week 7 road trip that saw the Chiefs defeat the San Fransisco 49ers. He is the most likely veteran to make his return to the starting lineup on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
Pacheco has been on injured reserve since he fractured a fibula against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.
Watch all three warming up with the team in this video shared by KSHB 41 sports producer Nick Jabobs on Twitter:
On the latest episode of @TheChiefsWire podcast: @EdEastonJr’s chats w/ Donnie Edwards #DENvsKC
We’re back with an all-new episode of the Chiefs Wire podcast! This week, we’re celebrating Veteran’s Day Weekend ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs matchup with the Denver Broncos.
Senior Writer Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards about establishing the Best Defense Foundation and his reaction to being honored by the NFL with the Salute to Service award in 2019. Edwards earned All-Pro honors twice as a San Diego Charger and discussed how much he loved his time in Kansas City.
We check in with this past week’s press conferences, featuring comments from quarterback Patrick Mahomes on his plans to bring professional basketball to Kansas City. The reigning Super Bowl MVP explains his desire to own a potential WNBA team and inspire more emphasis on women’s professional sports.
In the latest exclusive conversation on the Chiefs Wire Podcast, Edwards opened up about his friendship with Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas and their relationship as teammates in the 1990s. He started his career in Kansas City and came up short in pursuit of a Super Bowl title.
This week’s opponents are the Denver Broncos, a team rising in the AFC West under rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Check out the link below to get your fill of Chiefs talk ahead of Sunday’s kickoff:
Glenn Erby of The Eagles Wire sits down with Hall of Fame defensive back Brian Dawkins for The Eagles Wire to discuss his Salute to Service, Mental Health, Cooper DeJean, Vic Fango, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brian Dawkins is an all-time great athlete and a Hall of Famer, but he’s progressed into an even greater man. He’s focused on service, using his platform to bolster the mental health of others and pouring into others with his faith, resilience, and empathy.
The Hall of Famer participated in a ruck march in San Antonio, Texas, in partnership with USAA, the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP),and Face The Fight to help amplify the cause of mental health awareness and, more specifically, support the mission of the battle of veteran suicide prevention. During his HOF induction speech in 2018, Dawkins notably talked about his mental health struggles while in the NFL, sharing his thoughts of suicide and how he ultimately overcame them.
We sat down with the legendary Eagles on behalf of USAA to discuss his relationship with USAA and the importance of supporting veterans, particularly in mental wellness. Dawkins emphasizes the need for community and support systems for individuals dealing with trauma, drawing parallels between veterans’ experiences and personal struggles.
Dawkins shares insights from his participation in a Ruck march, highlighting his respect for veterans and the inspiration he draws from their resilience. He also touches on the Eagles’ current season, reflecting on their growth and challenges, and concludes with a message of hope and gratitude amidst negativity.
Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid shares an update on Isiah Pacheco and Charles Omenihu as they recover from injuries. | @EdEastonJr
The Kansas City Chiefs’ injuries have piled up throughout their undefeated start to the season. Head coach Andy Reid gave brief updates on starting running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive lineman Charles Omenihu, who remain on injured reserve.
“I mean, he’s (Isiah Pacheco) really doing well, but between the trainers and doctors and all, that’s out of my hands there,” said Reid. “He’s making great progress.”
Pacheco had been out since suffering a fractured fibula in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Charles Omenihu continues to work his way back from his injuries sustained during the AFC Championship game last season.
“Charles (Omenihu) is doing a good job, working his tail off again. The surgeons that do their jobs have the feel of it, so they’re constantly evaluating these guys.” Reid said. “When they’re ready to go, they’re ready to go, that’s how they got, but he’s getting closer.”
The pass rusher has documented his rehab process since surgery and is hopeful to return this season. Both players are significant to the team and could play a role in the quest for a three-peat as the schedule approaches mid-season.
Nick Bolton addressed the #Chiefs’ loss of L’Jarius Sneed, Willie Gay Jr., and Mike Edwards during a press conference earlier this week.
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton has been one of the league’s top players at the position since he was drafted in 2021.
While addressing the media after Kansas City’s practice on Monday, Bolton explained that he intends to take a leading role in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense this season after the loss of veterans L’Jarius Sneed, Mike Edwards, and Willie Gay Jr. in free agency.
“I think that those guys obviously meant a lot to our team – a huge chunk of our personality, [and] that personality changes year to year,” Bolton said. “We got a lot of guys that have been waiting to thrive in these moments Bryan Cook, Chamarri [Conner] is evolving in his role, [Justin Reid] back, we got Drue [Tranquill] that came back from last year, Leo [Chenal] is kind of emerging as one of those guys who have been a little more vocal as he gets more comfortable.
“I think it takes a little bit of everybody to kind of build a personality of a team and I kind of think that’s what training camp is for – like you find out what your personality is, find out what your DNA is, and find out what you’re made of.”
Bolton is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and with the stakes for the Chiefs’ 2024 campaign at an all-time high, now is the time for the budding young linebacker to earn his first extension in the NFL.
Ultrarunner and naval officer Paul Johnson is on an extraordinary cross-country run from Los Angeles to New York. His purpose? To raise a million dollars for Team Red, White & Blue. This nonprofit enriches the lives of US veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.
Fewer than 400 people have run this cross-country route. Paul’s original goal was to complete the 3,000-mile journey in 40 days. This meant averaging 75 miles per day and shaving two days off the former record. When Paul took a break on day 24 to talk to Outdoors Wire, he was a little behind on the record setting, but way ahead on the community support and cross-country outpouring of love. Here’s what he had to say.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5HxU3mRq9k
Outdoors Wire: How’s it going so far?
Johnson: You know, I thought I would really enjoy eating a lot of food. I don’t. So many calories. Day 16 was the hump. It was pretty rough up to day 16. Day 10 was one of the toughest, almost not being able to run at all. My foot, you know, we’re working on it. And since day 16, I’ve practically been running pain-free. Obviously, the legs are sore and tired. But we’re cruising now, so we’re starting to feel really good about it.
Outdoors Wire: What has surprised you on this run?
Johnson: The amount of support that we’ve received from people. Being in practically what feels like the middle of nowhere, and a random car comes ripping around the corner. Somebody hops out and starts yelling if they can run with us. Families that drove four hours to come give us chocolate chip cookies and then run the furthest they’ve ever run in their life with us. It’s just been insane. I’m looking right now at a stack of cards from a kindergarten class that all wrote me like motivational do-a-good-job cards that are hanging on the inside of the van. So, just to be able to see that level of support has been absolutely insane.
Outdoors Wire: How does running help mental health struggles for you and other veterans? Or for people in general?
Johnson: There’s a, at least for me, a very huge connection between mental and physical health. And I think a lot of people can relate to that. Especially within the military. One of the ways that we deal with stress is working out. There’s a lot of other not-as-great ways. But working out is one of the positive ones. And everybody has their own different way of doing it. A lot of people like lifting weights. You know, it’s kind of tough to go swimming because you need special facilities for that. But running and walking are a constant that you can do pretty much anywhere.
And I definitely find that if I’m not running as much, I struggle more myself with mental health. Running, I describe it to other people as my meditation. Especially for anxiety and depression. The running kind of gives it all a break. It’s a very positive release for me.
And so that’s the encouragement here. We want people to try and do something more physically active. Whether it’s running, walking, playing golf, pickleball, go for a hike. Whatever it is, by increasing that level of physical activity, you’re going to drastically improve your mental health.
Outdoors Wire: What sort of mental health problems do you think running is most helpful for?
Johnson: Definitely not for my sleep, I’ll tell you that. (laughs) No impact on the sleep issues I’ve had. It definitely has helped a lot with anxiety. Getting started and going out for a run is one of the hardest things, always. Just trying to get myself over that hump is very difficult. I just don’t want to do it. But as soon as I can finally force myself out that door, and I get 10, 20, 30 steps in, I’m so glad I did it. So, for me, that’s where I see the huge effect.
Having those anxiety symptoms with the tight chest and everything else, I just feel that I’m able to relax a bit once I start running.
Outdoors Wire: Tell us why Team Red, White & Blue is important to you.
Johnson: Because they’re the best, obviously. They are the nation’s largest community support group for veterans. And it’s not just veterans. There’s active-duty members like myself. There’s civilians. There are veterans. It’s a 200,000-person community and charity that’s focused on exactly what we’re out here to do, which is improve the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals.
Specifically, they do a lot of different things from providing training, programming, and community events with different physical goals. Monthly challenges to get you up and moving and trying something new. And really trying to get you involved to interact with and work out with other people.
That’s one of the things that a lot of veterans struggle with, when you leave such tight community as the military. People that you’ve lived with 24/7, now you’re no longer with those people. You’re kind of on your own. It’s a huge shock to the system and a very tough adjustment that a lot of people struggle with. And to me, that’s really why RWB is so important, is bridging that gap between physical and mental health and getting people involved.
Outdoors Wire: What do you most want people to know about veterans?
Johnson: They’re dope. Everybody has their own experience in the military. Some people have done combat tours. Some people have been shot at. Some people have been blown up. I’ve never been shot at, I’ve never been blown up. Yet, myself and a lot of my peers still struggle with a lot of similar mental health issues, just due to the level of stress that we’re constantly under, even when you’re in other roles.
I think a lot of people, even other service members, discredit the effects of mental health for a lot of people. Especially for the veterans. And they don’t really teach you a lot of good ways to necessarily deal with everything and how to transition. So, I think it’s important just to understand that everyone’s had different experiences. And just because maybe they didn’t do a combat tour doesn’t mean they’re not struggling with something.
Outdoors Wire: Anything else you want to share with readers about this ambitious cross-country run and what it means to you?
Johnson: We’re out here to raise awareness for mental health and fundraise 1 million dollars for Team Red, White & Blue. The record’s kind of out of the question at this point, and that’s totally fine. We’re here for the important part, which is that awareness and fundraising. So if you’re anywhere near where we’re going to be coming, come on out, say hi. Come run. Cheer us on as we go by. We love every form of support. And as always, get the word out, share with all your friends, family, coworkers, whatever. And help us reach that million-dollar goal.
Could any of these veteran free agents help get the #Chiefs out of their recent offensive rut?
The Kansas City Chiefs offense is in a rut. Patrick Mahomes looks more like a middling starter than the NFL’s reigning MVP, and the media is already questioning whether Andy Reid’s system has been figured out by defensive coordinators around the league.
After the trade deadline passed without a new addition to the Chiefs’ receiving corps, Kansas City’s options to rectify the void of talent at the position are severely limited.
While none of the players currently available have been standouts in recent seasons, there are some who have put together sneaky successful careers in the NFL despite their free-agent status.
Take a look at these six veteran options to see if the Chiefs should grease the wheels on its offense or be content to stand pat heading into the toughest part of their 2023 schedule:
“Just back your heels up so they’re sticking over the edge,” Kelly Cosgrove, an employee with the aptly named Over the Edge, told me. I stood on the top of the U.S. Bancorp Tower, locally known as Big Pink for its rosy hue. At 536 feet, the 42-story skyscraper is Portland’s second tallest. “Now just sit into your harness,” Cosgrove instructed. Straighten your legs more. Widen your feet. Start walking down.
On August 12, we rappellers got awesome views of downtown Portland and the Willamette River on a hot, sunny day. The point was to raise funds and awareness for Northwest Battle Buddies, a national nonprofit that gifts fully trained service dogs to veterans with PTSD.
That first step off the edge is the hardest. / Photo courtesy of Matthew Gilbert @matt_g.png
Northwest Battle Buddies
About 12 years ago, a veteran came to Shannon Walker, a professional dog trainer in Battleground, Washington, and asked her to train his service dog.
“I’d trained service dogs before,” Walker told me as we stood on the roof of Big Pink, waiting our turn to rappel. “But I never experienced what I experienced when I helped him through that process. I saw him change through the training of his service dog. I saw him find courage inside himself to lead her places he was afraid to go alone. And I saw him be willing to do for her what he wasn’t even willing to do for himself. Out of everything I’d ever accomplished in the dog world, nothing compared to how I felt when I watched him walk away with her.”
That was 212 service dogs ago. The experience motivated Walker to found Northwest Battle Buddies. She also serves as CEO.
Shannon Walker rappelling down Big Pink. / Photo by Matthew Gilbert @matt_g.png
Walker always respected veterans, thanks to her father, a veteran himself. “When you’re in the presence of a veteran, you’re in the presence of a hero,” she said. “That’s how he taught me.”
The service dogs are mostly English labs, English cream golden retrievers, Australian Labradoodles, plus some mixed breeds. It takes five months to train one service dog. Then, the veteran trains with their dog for five weeks. The pair must pass a test before going home together. Every year, they return for an afternoon to recertify.
“That way we have accountability to the dog’s weight, his vaccinations. We see the relationship. But we also see that they’re still handling with excellence.”
Rappelling for a purpose
Rappelling is just the latest in a series of Northwest Battle Buddies fundraisers. “We’ve had other crazy events,” COO Ovie Muntean tells me, citing skydiving and bungee jumping as some of the more noteworthy. “But I’ve never done this one before. I’m excited, nervous.”
Muntean seems like a thrill seeker, but he’s not here just for kicks. “I’ll do anything to make a difference. And the purpose of this fundraiser event is to raise awareness in the Northwest about our American heroes, the invisible wounds of war, what they have to fight when they come back. Their battle just begins. It’s an internal battle that there’s no cure for that we know of.” Muntean is very proud of his son, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and his daughter, who served in the U.S. Air Force.
Northwest Battle Buddies COO Ovie Muntean and CEO Shannon Walker. / Photo by Teresa Bergen
Why rappelling? “I feel that anything that’s out of the normal attracts attention,” Muntean said. “And it’s also fun for the people to participate.”
At the Big Pink event, fundraising rappellers each had a $2,000 target. Not everybody hit the goal, but some went over and above. Gary Cummings, an 87-year-old participant, raised roughly $5,000.
“We need money to operate,” Muntean said. “We don’t charge the veteran a penny for the service dog. But the highly professionally trained service dog costs us $25,000. And we couldn’t do it without the help of the community at large.”
How do you set up a rappelling fundraiser? You hire professionals like Over the Edge, a Canada-based company that has helped nonprofits worldwide raise more than $135 million via urban rappelling events since 2008. Their team at Big Pink was friendly but no-nonsense about safety. I was reprimanded twice: once for leaning over the edge to take photos of a rappeller (if I dropped the phone, I could kill someone below) and once for getting in their workspace without wearing a helmet. I appreciated how careful they were.
Photo by Teresa Bergen
After suiting up in a harness, gloves, and helmet, we got a safety lesson inside the building on a demo rope. Then we went up to the roof, where Over the Edge had two ropes set up dangling off. I rappelled at the same time as Michael Curtis, a fundraising superstar known for his epic stand-up paddleboard journeys in support of Northwest Battle Buddies.
Michael Curtis and I suited up and ready to go. / Photo courtesy of Michael Curtis
We had to climb up stepladders to reach the ledge, then stand with our backs to downtown. Having only rappelled off rocks before, the slick building was a bit of a challenge. My legs started to get tired a few floors down, and I wondered “Geez, do they wax this thing?” They probably do.
It was a thrill to be so high up with a viewpoint I’d never seen before. I gazed down at the Willamette River, where I’d been swimming that morning, and our city looked so beautiful. Still, it was a relief to reach the bottom!
The view from the top. / Photo by Teresa Bergen
On such a gorgeous summer day, pumped up from the thrill of an epic descent, it’s all good feelings. But the underlying purpose is to bring more good feelings to our veterans. Every day in the U.S., approximately 22 veterans take their own lives, due in part to PTSD. That’s roughly 8,000 a year.
On the roof of Big Pink, Walker emphasized the most important point. “We’ve provided 212 service dogs. We have not lost one veteran to suicide.”
Northwest Battle Buddies hopes to make the rappel an annual event. But you don’t have to wait until next year. Donate here anytime.
Which veteran players have received rest days at Saints training camp? It’s a good indication of who’s making the cut for roster spots, and who is managing their workload:
We’re halfway through New Orleans Saints training camp with the first 11 practices in the books — so it’s a good time to take stock of which players have been given rest days up to this point. It’s not uncommon for two or three veterans to be given a day off in the heat of the summer, but some guys with injury histories are also scheduled for a rest day here or there as the team manages their workload.
So which players have been given the most rest days through camp so far? At the halfway point, here are the areas the team is taking it cautiously:
Our @goldmctNFL thinks these #Chiefs veterans could be challenged for their jobs by incoming rookies.
The Kansas City Chiefs added plenty of new pieces to their roster via the 2023 NFL draft, making a single selection in each of the seven rounds of the draft. They also added several undrafted free agents who will have a chance to compete for a roster spot this summer.
Some of the players added could even challenge established veterans for their jobs, be it a starting position or otherwise. Training camp and the preseason will present some fierce position battles and competition that make the roster better in the long run.
From Clyde Edwards-Helaire to Joshua Kaindoh, here’s a look at some of the Chiefs’ veterans who should be on alert with rookies coming in to challenge them for a roster spot.
