🏈 Chiefs Quotes: 8-7-26

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

August 7, 2026

OPENING STATEMENT: “Alright as far as injuries go, the one positive about these injuries is that there’s nothing that these guys aren’t coming back from, but we’ve got a couple little nicks and bruises. (LB Jeffrey) Bassa has the groin strain, (DE Ashton) Gillotte, still working on the hamstring. (G) Trey (Smith), his hip was bothering him, sent him to a specialist just to have it checked out. Precautionary. He’s going to be okay. (CB) L’Jarius (Sneed), just like we did when he was here before, we’re managing his knee. We know the problem, and we manage through that. And then (LB) Drue (Tranquill), like last year, he has some low back tightness. There’s some soreness (and) spasms there, so we’re just calming him down. And then (WR) Xavier’s (Worthy) making progress with the shoulder. (CB Mansoor) Delane got good work today, (WR) Rashee (Rice) got good work today, so good work all the way around. We’ve got a couple different situations we were able to work on, and I thought it was a very productive day. So, with that, time’s yours.”

Q: We saw WR Cyrus Allen come out early and then went off, is that part of the plan?

REID: “Yeah, ease him (WR Cyrus Allen) back in, yeah. He did a good job when he was out there, so that was positive.”

Q: What has WR Cyrus Allen been like as a young guy wanting to get back out there?

REID: “Yeah, (WR Cyrus Allen) he’s at all the meetings, he’s focused in, wants to get out there, doesn’t want to miss. None of these guys want to miss, they all want to be out there and going, so that’s not an issue. He’s no different than that. He’s been working hard with his rehab, and we’ll just ease him back in like you said.”

Q: On playing QB Patrick Mahomes in the preseason game versus the Los Angeles Rams.

REID: “Listen, there’s a pretty good chance I don’t play (QB Patrick Mahomes) him. Percentages are leaning that way. I don’t know if I’ll play him in the second or third game, I mean I don’t know that. But percentages probably leaning against doing that and letting the other guys. We’ve got new people in those other positions and behind him, that need some work. And so, the more reps they get, the better.”

Q: What has QB Garrett Nussmeier been showing you so far?

REID: “Every time (QB Garrett Nussmeier) he’s in, he moves the ball. So, I look at that. And then any of the mistakes will correct as we go, but his past production has been really positive. And he gets it, he works hard, his dad’s a coach and he grew up that way, knowing about detail, and so he’s doing a nice job. We’ve loaded him up. I mean we haven’t pulled back on anything with him, as far as volume, and he’s handled it.”

Q: On QB Patrick Mahomes running during practice.

REID: “To play in a game, you’ve got to have that. You have to have escape-ability or you can’t be in there. You can’t play in that position and be a target. You’ve got to have some mobility back there. So, (QB Patrick Mahomes) he works on that. If it’s not there down the field, he takes off and runs, and every time he does that it builds a little more confidence in it and the leg and all that bit. But that’s an important part of it.”

Q: T Kahlil Benson moved in and played guard, what did you think of that?

REID: “Yeah, you know what? I thought (T Kahlil Benson) he did okay. There were a couple of hiccups in there. Things move a little faster when you’re inside there. Everything jumps on you quickly. When you go against (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags (Spagnuolo), you’re going to get a lot of different flavors and you have to be able to make those decisions, like right now, in an area that’s faster than the tackle position. But I thought he held his own physically for sure, and then there are a couple of things that he’s got to pick up from there.”

Q: What has been the most enjoyable part about teaching this group so far?

REID: “They want to learn. The best thing about teaching is that the student listens. If you have a classroom that you’re preaching to, and their mind is somewhere else, that’s no fun. So, these guys want to get better, and everything you tell them, they’re receptive to and they’ll try it. That’s kind of why we’re in the business, as coaches, to teach.”

Q: On RB Brashard Smith’s pass protection ability.

REID: “Yeah so, protection for the young guys is a big thing. So, we’ve been putting him in positions there where he’s got to, you’ve got to know the rules and step up physically and hold onto it, and he’s done a nice job with that. So, with that, he’s gotten more reps. We know he can run the ball. We know he can catch the ball but that other part’s a big part. And the more reps he gets at, the better he’s got.”

Q: On RB Brashard Smith putting in work in the offseason.

REID: “Yeah, he got a little bigger, and he was skinny last year, but he looks like he put some good weight on. Seems to be in good shape. I mean, he’s out there running around, and able handle to it.”

Q: How have DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah and DE R Mason Thomas looked so far?

REID: “Yeah, I mentioned (DE) Felix (Anudike-Uzomah) the other day, just his get off. That’s what jumps out to me and he’s bringing power with it. So, with that, it’s one thing to run around people and do all that, but there’s a point as a defensive end, man, you have to be able to blow things up a little bit. Physically, blow things up, and I feel like he’s worked hard at that and doing a nice job. All coming from that core area, hips, hamstrings, where he had the issues. But he’s done a nice job there. And then (DE) R Mason’s (Thomas) making progress. Every day is important for him. He keeps stacking and learning. He’s got a great coach with (Defensive Line Coach) Joe (Cullen), both of them do, with Joe, and Joe rides them. As long as you’re listening and doing what he says, it’s a good thing, but he’s been hanging with them, so he’s good.”

Q: On Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

REID: “Yeah so (Wife of Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy) Mia (Bieniemy) continues to improve, which is important and so we’re heading in the right direction, and we’ll just see. When he gets back, he gets back here. But I know he’s chomping at the bit, and Mia is probably wanting to get him out of there too probably (laughter).”

Chiefs Players Quotes

August 7, 2026

QB GARRETT NUSSMEIER

Q: What is the most challenging thing about taking in everything Head Coach Andy Reid wants you to do?

NUSSMEIER: “Yeah, I wouldn’t say there’s one particular thing that is challenging. I think I’m just trying to learn and grow in many different areas of my game. Being around a legendary coach like that, who’s had a lot of experience with some really great quarterbacks, anything that he says, I try to listen and take notes. Even if he is not talking to me, if he’s talking to (QB) Pat (Patrick Mahomes) or (QB) Justin (Fields), trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can around him.”

Q: What have you learned and grown on throughout this camp so far?

NUSSMEIER: “Yeah, I think, as I said, so many different things and so many different areas of my game. Learning whatever I can from (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid and one thing they’re on to me a lot about is my feet and just continuing to mature that way, with my eyes, and things like that. As I’ve said before, I don’t know if I can put my finger on one exact thing but trying to learn multiple different things from him.”

Q: On his first NFL training camp.

NUSSMEIER: “Yeah, it’s an awesome experience. I’m super grateful to be here. This is something that I’ve dreamed about my entire life. At the end of the day, I’m super blessed and super grateful I’m in the NFL. I thank God each and every day I wake up that this is my life right now. I try to make the most of it, it’s definitely different. It’s a little bit of a humbling experience, but it’s awesome. I’m in such a great room with two great quarterbacks, two great vets in front of me with (QB) Justin (Fields) and (QB) Pat (Patrick Mahomes), so you know just trying to learn everything I can from them, spend as much time as I can around Pat, just seeing his routines and things like that. Just continue to make myself better by being around them.

DE FELIX ANUDIKE-UZOMAH

Q: How do you think camp is going for you?

ANUDIKE-UZOMAH: “I’m learning every day, trying to get better. It’s going pretty good, honestly, still a couple things that I need to work on, a couple technique areas I need to work on and stuff like that to get better. But good thing it’s camp. So, every day at a time, I can get one percent better.”

Q: How was your recovery process from being hurt last season?

ANUDIKE-UZOMAH: “It was tough, but at the end of the day, this is a blessing to be in this type of job. So, it was like one of those things either I can get better, or I get worse. So, I try to choose the best I can be.”

Q: What do you think of the potential this defensive line has compared to previous years?

ANUDIKE-UZOMAH: “This group is very hungry, and we’ve got a bunch of young guys that act like vets. It’s basically how they roll, how they learn the game or anything like that. So, we’ve got a pretty good group and obviously (DT) Chris (Jones) and (DE) George (Karlaftis) leading the way. It’s looking pretty good.”

DE R MASON THOMAS

Q: You did all the rookie camp and now you’re into this camp. How do you feel like you fit right now?

THOMAS: “I think it’s a pretty good fit. I’m still learning things, still processing things. Yeah, it’s going great so far. Still installing. So, I can learn something every day at practice.”

Q: On the topic of one on ones with Assistant Defensive Line Coach Terry Bradden and Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen. 

THOMAS: “They are big on details. It’s the little things. It’s not even something that you think I would do. I didn’t know I was doing it until they called it out. Little details like your step, your hand placement, and your eyes. Your eyes kind of help you play faster. So, little things like that.”

Q: You seem like a real student of the game. When did that develop for you, when did that process and how are you going about doing your homework?