The Kansas City Chiefs returned to the practice fields at Missouri Western State University on Thursday.
This is the final padded practice for the team ahead of the preseason Week 1 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. The final practice session brought good news, with several players returning from injury after extended absences.
RT Mike Remmers returned to work briefly after a back injury kept him out of practice since Day 4. He took some repetitions with the first-team offense, but most of the starting reps continued to go to rookie OT Lucas Niang. Unfortunately, Remmers’ return to action didn’t last long, he eventually returned to the training tent. According to Chiefs HC Andy Reid, this was planned, just to get him back into the swing of things.
DE Alex Okafor also returned to practice, appearing to participate in full after tweaking his hamstring on Day 7 of training camp. Okafor has proven to be key depth on the edge after re-signing with the team in late July ahead of training camp. He’s listed as a second-stringer on the team’s first depth chart behind DE Chris Jones.
LB Willie Gay Jr., who did individual warmups during Tuesday’s practice, was back out there again for practice on Thursday. He continued to work individually and is likely to miss the first preseason game. He told fans in attendance that he would be “full-go” for Monday’s practice session.
During practice, CB BoPete Keyes left the field with an apparent hand injury. He eventually was escorted from the training tent up the hill to the locker room. According to Reid’s post-practice report, Keyes dislocated a finger. Quick turnaround is probable with that type of injury, he could even play in the first preseason game.
Pringle vs Keyes pic.twitter.com/CXoanWmPdO
— Eddie High (@EddieHigh) August 12, 2021
DT Derrick Nnadi also left practice with an injury. This is now the second practice that Nnadi was unable to finish after leaving early on Day 10. He’s dealing with a hip flexor injury.
DE Frank Clark left practice with a hamstring spasm per Coach Reid. It doesn’t sound like it’s serious, but they might keep him out of Saturday’s game as a precaution.
WR Antonio Callaway (bone bruise), RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (hand), TE Evan Baylis (Ankle), RG Kyle Long (tibia), and DE Malik Herring (knee) all remained absent from practice on Thursday. Just when you think the injury list is getting smaller, it tends to grow in size.
The team has an off day on Friday for travel ahead of their first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. The next training camp practice comes on Monday, August 16th.
