By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Chiefs had ideal conditions for a two-hour, fully padded practice Tuesday.
The Chiefs practiced under sunny skies with temperatures right around 70 to start the day. The best news of the day for the team was the return of corner Rashad Fenton to the practice field.
Fenton received shoulder surgery in the offseason and was inactive for OTAs and mandatory minicamp, and he was on the physically unable to perform list for the first 11 camp practices.
Now that he's back on the field, Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt says Fenton will slowly be reacclimated.
"He'll get a couple of the one-on-one (drills) and after that, we'll just continue to matriculate into all of the other periods," Merritt said. "It's been great having him back and he's been great in the classroom for us."
Fenton appeared in 14 games and started eight of them last year, recording seven pass deflections and 49 total tackles. He joins a stacked room of talent, including rookie corner Trent McDuffie and third-year pro L'Jarius Sneed, who Fenton played behind last season.
With Charvarius Ward no longer on the team, Fenton will likely play a key role in the defensive backfield, but he certainly has competition. Rookies Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams are also competing for time.
Many of Andy Reid’s assistants and support staff took to the podium following Tuesday’s practice. Back on the staff this year is Matt Nagy - senior offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach.
He was formerly the offensive coordinator in Kansas City from 2013-2017 and then head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2018-2021 before getting fired in February.
Being back in KC, Nagy says it’s been great getting reacquainted, and he credited Reid, Eric Bieniemy, Patrick Mahomes and general manager Brett Veach for the success they’ve had since he’s been gone.
"We work together and we help each other out," Nagy said. "There's zero egos. It is kind of like riding a bicycle, but at the point in time, we're all in this for one reason. Zero egos and we're here to win. That's it."
Nagy was brought back to the Chiefs in February, filling the shoes of Mike Kafka, who left to be offensive coordinator for the Giants.
"The last four years of me not being here and what Coach Reid, Veach, Patrick and (Bieniemy) and the rest of this group has done is nothing short of amazing," Nagy commented. "We had a lot of good times up to that point and now I'm back. I appreciate that and it means a lot to me."
New players making an impact
The Chiefs added 50 new players to their roster this offseason, and those newcomers are trying to find their way onto the 53-man active roster.
Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi is in his 14th year with the team. He says camp is always exciting, but he’s eager to see these new players get their first in-game experience on Saturday during the preseason game in Chicago.
"Excited about this weekend," Borgonzi said. "Another exciting opportunity for these guys to come out and showcase what they can do and compete. Great opportunity for us to kind of evaluate them in game conditions now."
The Chiefs play at the Bears this Saturday at noon central - the first of three preseason games Kansas City will play this month.
Several Chiefs rookies have had productive camps. Running back Isiah Pacheco and receiver Skyy Moore probably top the list, but the aforementioned McDuffie and Joshua Williams are certainly there.
Borgonzi also mentioned seventh-round pick and corner Jaylen Watson as someone making an impact.
"Watson is a bigger corner who can run," he said. "Even (rookie safety) Nazeeh (Johnson) is somebody who ran a (4.35-second 40-yard dash). They have these traits. When you're looking for those traits, what's the characteristics that's going to make them work? They all kind of have that. They all tried to get better every year in college."
Pacheco - confirmed kick returner. McDuffie punt returner?
Special teams coach Dave Toub mentioned about a week ago that Pacheco would be the starting kick returner for the Chiefs' first preseason game, and he reaffirmed that decision Tuesday, with that first game now just four days away.
"We're going to give him every chance to be that guy," Toub said of Pacheco. "I just think he has all of the attributes of being a good kick returner and he's gotten better and better at practice. He's doing little things better, he's catching the ball great."
At punt return, Mecole Hardman has been taking reps at that spot. He's been the go-to guy there for the past three seasons. Toub likes Moore and McDuffie back there as well.
"McDuffie is the best punt catcher we have," Toub remarked.
Justin Reid as backup kicker? Maybe one day.
Justin Reid went viral when he knocked through a 65-yard field goal after practice on Sunday.
Toward the end of a special teams session Tuesday, Toub decided to let Reid try again. This time, from about 52 yards. It was well short and shanked to the left.
"I wanted to surprise (Reid)," Toub said. "I saw him hanging out. He's always hanging out at the field goal drill. So, I wanted to surprise him and see how he would handle it. I don't think we found our backup kicker yet. But, he has a strong leg so we'll keep seeing what he can do."
Injury update
The one new injury to report Tuesday is that of defensive back Zayne Anderson, who left practice around 9:30 a.m. It was later disclosed that he has a shoulder injury. No word yet on how serious.
Receiver Daurice Fountain (groin), tight end Jody Forston (quad), defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth (knee) and receiver Gary Jennings (concussion) did not practice Tuesday. Offensive lineman Lucas Niang (knee) is still on the PUP list.
The Chiefs have the day off from practice Wednesday, will be back Thursday and then travel to Chicago Friday.
The team practices Monday - Thursday of next week, with Aug. 18 being the last day of camp.
