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7 takeaways from Day 1 of Chiefs training camp

The Kansas City Chiefs took the field for their first day of training camp practice. Rookies got a head start on the veterans, but now everyone is out in St. Joseph, Missouri in preparation for the upcoming season.

The team is still going through practices without pads as they go through the contact integration period leading up to their first padded practices. Even without pads, there are plenty of things to take away from this first training camp practice. It was the team’s first meaningful action since mandatory minicamp broke in mid-June.

Here are seven things that we’re taking away from the first day of Chiefs’ training camp:

First-team offensive line holds from minicamp

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Your starters on the offensive line held from mandatory minicamp with the following players earning starts on Day 1 of training camp: LT Orlando Brown Jr. – LG Joe Thuney – C Creed Humphrey – RG Trey Smith – RT Mike Remmers

Some might be surprised to see Trey Smith in there over a veteran like Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, but we predicted this earlier this week. Andy Reid typically is partial to veterans, so this just shows you how much the rookie has impressed.

“Yeah, well it was consistency,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid said following practice. “He’d done a nice job. Not that it’s perfect, he’s a young guy. But he showed enough to legitimately be in that position for right now and then he’s got to compete. So we’ll see how all of that goes when we get the pads on.”

Obviously, injuries and things happen during the course of training camp, which can change the lineup rather quickly.

The second-team offensive line was as follows per KC Star beat writer Sam McDowell: LT Lucas Niang – LG Nick Allegretti – C Austin Blythe – RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – RT Andrew Wylie

The most interesting thing here is Andrew Wylie getting work at the right tackle spot. The team seems to be setting the veteran up for a reserve role where he can play both guard and tackle in a pinch.

Chris Jones move to DE seems a little more significant after one practice

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

So far this offseason all the talk about Chris Jones making a move to defensive end has felt like just that — talk. He’s played the position before, with over 200 snaps at the spot last year alone. That really felt like the ceiling for the snaps he’d get at the position in 2021, that is until the first day of training camp arrived.

Jones has already seen more work at the defensive end position during practice than ever before.

Now, while it might seem like Jones only took repetitions at defensive end, he did get some snaps at defensive tackle during practice too. One thing is for certain, though. The Chiefs are giving Jones a long look on the edge during training camp. They’ll move him around as they see fit to create matchup problems for opposing offenses.

A Year 2 jump for Willie Gay Jr.

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

What would training camp be without some hype for a second-year player. Today, the player who stood out the most at practice was former second-round draft pick, Willie Gay Jr., who had two big plays in coverage on the day.

“Willie (Gay), it’s just what you said, he’s more comfortable in the defense, in the scheme,” Reid told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s worked very hard at that. We look for good things from Willie.”

 

As you’d expect, Gay is looking a lot more at home in the defense in his second year. That should make for much more playing time when the season comes around, assuming that his newfound success continues to hold.

Cornerback battle is between DeAndre Baker and Mike Hughes

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

According to several reporters in attendance, in the Chiefs’ base defense Charvarius Ward lined up at LCB with L’Jarius Sneed at RCB. When the Chiefs went to the nickel defense, Sneed moved to the slot. Former first-round draft picks Mike Hughes and DeAndre Baker split repetitions at RCB in the sub-package defense. This is something that DC Steve Spagnuolo suggested could happen during mandatory minicamp, with Sneed splitting time between the outside and the slot. For now, it’d seem the big battle at the cornerback position is going to be between Hughes and Baker. Rashad Fenton only got repetitions with the second-team defense on Wednesday.

Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson stand out with first team

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

A big storyline heading into camp is the absence of Sammy Watkins, who left the Chiefs in free agency to join the Baltimore Ravens. Who would replace Watkins in the offense, well, early indications show that it might take a village that steps up to replace him. Both third-year WR Mecole Hardman and veteran WR Demarcus Robinson had good practice sessions on Wednesday, working with the first team and catching passes from Patrick Mahomes.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke a bit on Hardman following practice:

“I like the work that Mecole (Hardman) has put in this offseason,” Reid said. “The way he handled himself. I like the way he came out today and what he did here. I look for good things from him. . . He’ll keep getting better as he goes. This will be a big camp for him.”

Shane Buechele got No. 3 QB repetitions

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

According to our friend Pete Sweeney over at Arrowhead Pride, the first quarterback to receive repetitions after Patrick Mahomes and Chad Henne was former SMU Mustang Shane Buechele. He had a standout play on a deep pass to rookie WR Cornell Powell, who had a few big catches on the day during team drills.

This is a bit surprising given that the other rookie QB, former Washington State QB Anthony Gordon, finished the weekend of rookie-only practices with a very good session. It’s possible that these two will be switching off throughout camp, but it’s important to monitor that No. 3 QB contest as things progress and get closer to the preseason.

Noah Gray continues to get action with the first team

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Noah Gray secured the No. 2 tight end spot during OTAs and mandatory minicamp and he’s yet to give it up. He continued to get repetitions with the first team during training camp practices. He’s still working out a few kinks and making a few rookie mistakes, but he has also shown enough consistency to earn opportunities ahead of a veteran like Blake Bell.

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