The Kansas City Chiefs have a couple of new names absent from OTAs in the final week of practice. Andy Reid spoke to the media following today’s session and revealed several new injuries, including two tight ends and a rookie defender.
Tight ends Blake Bell and Deon Yelder were held out with injuries. Bell is suffering from back spasms and Yelder has a minor hamstring injury. This is the same injury which also caused Yelder to miss time from last week’s OTAs.
With starting tight end Travis Kelce being held out until at least training camp following ankle surgery, these are valuable reps that Bell and Yelder are missing out on. This means more opportunities for John Lovett, David Wells, Joe Fortson, and newest addition Nick Keizer.
Also absent is rookie safety Juan Thornhill with a calf injury. The injury was described by Reid as “tweaked,” so hopefully that means it’s no big deal. The safety position was perhaps the weakest position on the Chiefs’ defense last season. Now, it is suddenly a crowded group and could be a strength for K.C. in 2019. It’d be nice to have Thornhill in there getting valuable repetitions, but hopefully getting his calf right this early in the offseason will help promote a healthy start to the season.
Players who have returned to practice this week after missing time from last week include running back Damien Williams and wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Both missed for personal reasons, so no injuries to worry about there.
