Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes
August 3, 2026
OPENING STATEMENT: “Alright, as far as the injuries go, the guys who didn't practice today were (WR) Cyrus (Allen), ended up being a bone bruise on his shin area there, so it'll be a day or two here. And then (DE Ashton) Gillotte has a hamstring strain. (WR) Xavier (Worthy) has a shoulder sprain. Again, it'll be a few days for that, and we'll just see how that goes. Other than that, everybody practiced and did a nice job. It's a great atmosphere out here, putting pads on the first day. Appreciate the effort that they put in. They challenged each other. If you continue to do that, then you have a chance to get better. We've got plenty of room to grow, but you've got to have the effort to be able to do that and I appreciate that. On the (Offensive Coordinator) Eric Bieniemy side of it, (Wife of Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy) Mia's (Bieniemy) doing better. She keeps improving by the day, so that's a positive. There's no timetable on EB coming back or any of that, so he just needs to take care of business there and then when he gets back here, he gets back here. Anyways, with that, time's yours.”
Q: You said a day or two before WR Cyrus Allen can practice again?
REID: “Yeah, they've got to get the swelling out there. So however many days it takes to get the swelling out of him.”
Q: What’s been your impression of DL Peter Woods?
REID: “Yeah, I like what I've seen. He's an explosive kid. He's learning. He's smart. He's learning, trying to home in some of these techniques we're asking him to do. I like his effort. He's got a ways to go, but I sure liked the tools and the effort and how smart he is. I appreciate that.”
Q: With some receivers out, you get a chance to look at some of your depth out there, including WR Andrew Armstrong and WR Jalen Royals. What have you seen from those guys?
REID: “Yeah, I think (WR Jalen) Royals has kind of gotten better, playing faster every day that he's been here. And then (WR Andrew) Armstrong, likewise, he went through the rookie camp and pushed through that, and I thought he did a nice job there, and he's transferred that over. Looks like (QB) Pat's (Mahomes) got trust in him. So, I think that's a plus. He's getting better every day. Big target, strong, and I like that part of it.”
Q: How do you think T Josh Simmons is improving from last year?
REID: “He's trying to work on all the small things right now. He's got all the tools, and he knows that. He got his weight up a little bit, and he's got strength and now it's just a matter of being consistent with assignments and footwork and all that, which is so important on the offensive line. But he's working like crazy to make sure he homes in on all that stuff.”
Q: Coach, I know it's early here, but what would be the keys to determine whether it’s OL Jaylon Moore or OL Kahlil Benson starting at right tackle?
REID: “I think you let them compete and just see where it goes. Both of them can play, I think. We just have a young guy that we haven't seen too much, but he's got some talent. So, let's see where that goes.
And (OL Jaylon) Moore keeps battling, and he's had a couple good days, too. So, we'll need all of them. That's how it goes.”
Q: With battles like that, especially with the young guy, you're going to see them make mistakes. Is one of your key clues just how quickly they can bounce back from that?
REID: “Yeah, so not to make the same mistake twice. That's what I'm looking for. We'll give you a chance here to learn, but if you start making it consistently, then we've got a problem. But he's (T Kahlil Benson) been doing a good job. There's a hiccup here or there, but he fixes them normally.”
Q: We saw RB Brashard Smith coming in right after RB Kenneth Walker. What do you want to see from him in year two, and why is it important for him to get some of those reps?
REID: “I know he can run the football. I know he's good with the ball in his hands, (can) catch the ball. Can you do all the small things that a running back has to do with protection, the intricacies of the different routes that we have for him? So, let's see how we've improved, protection being the big one.”
Q: Two quick things. One, just to clarify, WR Xavier Worthy, do you see him as day-to-day also?
REID: “Day-to-day, we'll just see where it goes.”
Q: Also, with QB Patrick Mahomes today, first day in pads, it's some sort of less encumbering device it looked like.
REID: “Yeah, he's got a brace on, but he's got to keep the brace on throughout.”
Q: Was it the full brace though, or was it a little…
REID: “I don't know, it was a brace. I'm not looking at the brace. I'm not looking at the brace.”
Q: We saw CB Mansoor Delane running in and out of the huddle, but not wearing pads today. How do you guys kind of balance getting him ready to play, but obviously getting him healthy?
REID: “Yeah, so he's a tough nut. A lot of guys probably wouldn't go out there and play with what he's got but he wants to be out there, he wants to learn. That's what he wants to do. But contact, we've got to keep him out of contact. Right now, that's important until that thing heals up. Footwork and all that is great. He'll do all that, no problem but you've got to just wait until it's healed up.”
Q: It seems to me that you guys have put more of an emphasis on working under center. What's going into that, and what are you trying to see about that offensive aspect?
REID: “We've always mixed it. I think that's a healthy thing. There's no reason why or what, but other than we have some good stuff out of that. We want to try to use it.”
Q: Does that add some more reps off of play action?
REID: “Nate, you want to know if it adds more runs and play action. Listen, we're going to mix. That's what we're going to do. We're not going to change that part.”
Chiefs Players Quotes
August 3, 2026
G TREY SMITH
Q: Anything that jumped out to you today that was memorable for the first day of pads?
SMITH: “Year six, St. Joe has not changed. It’s still hot, this job is still hard to do, coaching is still incredible. And it’s always a challenge to try to go out there and push yourself and strive for perfection but every time you will fall short a little bit, but I think just getting back on the grind. That’s day one in pads.”
Q: On what stood out about DL Peter Woods and going up against him.
SMITH: “(DL) Peter (Woods) is really talented, man, the sky’s the limit for him. In terms of hand utilization, speed, power, he’s really sort of the full package type of guy. And he’s young and figuring out the game, but he has a willingness to learn and I’ve really enjoyed the way he’s stepped into this program, this organization, and how he’s trying to turn himself into a great player. Definitely has an outstanding future ahead of him. I’m really excited to help him in his development where I can.”
Q: It was the first padded practice with referees. Does it feel more like real football?
SMITH: “It was cool. It’s always cool to have the refs here and to have more of a decompressed setting to ask questions, and not having a flag for holding, just asking why, they can actually break that down a little bit. But they’re always super helpful, they always provide so much insight into the game and little nuance questions that we can ask, little adjustments here and there for the year, so it’s always advantageous to have the crew here and they always do a phenomenal job for our camp.”
DB CHAMARRI CONNER
Q: How do you feel about your role in the defense this year, playing more safety as opposed to nickel, and how much more comfortable are you?
CONNER: “Oh, I’m very comfortable playing safety. It’s exciting to be in one spot. I’m always ready to do whatever the team needs, but I’m excited for this year. I’m excited for this season.”
Q: Does losing veterans in the offseason change your mentality at all?
CONNER: “Yeah, definitely changed my mentality. We’ve got a lot of younger guys that came in, we’ve got a lot of older veteran guys that’s still learning. So, I’m kind of in that middle piece to help guys out, kind of bridge that gap.”
Q: What do you think of the Defensive Back group as a whole?
CONNER: “Like I said, I think we’re a group full of guys that’s eager to learn, eager to get better every day and a group of hungry guys, so I’m excited.”
DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS
Q: Is there a different intensity when the pads come on for the first time?
KARLAFTIS: “I mean, definitely, it’s as real as we are going to get, as close to the game as we are going to get, so definitely, I would say.”
Q: On the topic of mentoring younger players.
KARLAFTIS: “There’s a whole lot of guys. It’s funny after these practices, they will all go straight to the iPad. That’s what I used to do, so it’s funny looking back at that. But go to the iPad and watch the tape. They will come up to me—come up to (DT) Chris (Jones) like, ‘Okay, what do you think about this rep and what do you think I could do better?’ Those guys, they’re hungry. Hungry for knowledge, hungry to get better. We’ve developed a routine after practice with (Assistant Defensive Line) Coach (Terry) Bradden of doing these hands. Doing them every single day, so we can stack and really do stuff that we can apply to our game. So, doing that on the field, coupled up with all the conversations we’ll have in the meeting rooms, outside of the meeting rooms and stuff like that. All those guys are just so hungry, and they want to get better, they want to be great and they love ball, so I love having those guys around. They’re all great additions.”
Q: When it comes to the entire group from your perspective, what intrigues you most—I know it is day one in pads, but what the group could be for this season?